GUWAHATI, Sept 7 - A division bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice (Acting) K Sreedhar Rao and Justice PK Saikia has directed the CBI to investigate the lynching of Syed Sarif Khan by a mob in Dimapur and to submit its report within six months.
On March 5 last, a mob entered the Central Jail in Dimapur and dragged out Syed Sarif Khan, who was accused of raping a 20-year-old Naga girl. Khan was beaten up, paraded naked, lynched and ultimately hanged from the Clock Tower in Dimapur by the mob. Khan belonged to Bosla village of Karimganj. His family members said that he had been framed since he refused to pay illegal taxes.
For speedy and impartial investigation of the incident which occurred due to acts of omission and commission by the Nagaland police, including jail officials, a PIL was filed by Rajeeb Kalita demanding a probe by the CBI.
Another PIL was also filed by Nilim Dutta seeking investigation by the National Investigation Agency.
An affidavit was filed by Nagaland Government that in connection with the killing, three police station cases were registered, SIT was constituted to investigate, 58 persons were arrested till March 2015, and lookout notice was issued against 32 persons.
