Dimapur lynching case: Slow progress in probe, panel gets extension

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Khan, a small-time trader who bought and sold used cars, was lynched and his body hanged in Dimapur’s City Tower locality after an irate mob broke into the Dimapur Central Jail on March 5. Khan was lodged in the jail after being arrested on charges of raping a tribal girl.

The three written statements, which the inquiry commission has received so far, were submitted by the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), the Shoipu Village Union, Dimapur and the S D Jain Girls’ College, Dimapur.

The girl, who was allegedly raped by Khan, was a student of the SD Jain Girls’ College.

The probe panel was set up to ascertain the causes and circumstances that led to the incident, and to look into the lapses on part of officials and public authorities.

The inquiry commission, which had begun its work from May 18, had through a public notice specifically asked local dailies, media fraternity, the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce (DCC), the Naga Mothers Association (NMA)  and student bodies – Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU), Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU), Western Sumi Students’ Union (WSSU) – to file written statements before it. The public notice had also sought statements from principals of different schools and colleges of Dimapur, as well as family members of the victims.