Nagaland mob lynching: curfew lifted, situation improving, say police

Kohima/Dimapur: Situation in Dimapur has been improving and the curfew has been lifted, police officials said on Monday, days after an angry mob lynched a rape accused after breaking into the jail.

The number of arrests in connection with the incident have gone upto 43 even as prohibitory orders under Sec 144 CrPC are in force, Additional SP, Dimapur, Kakheto said.

Curfew that was clamped on Sunday and relaxed from 6 am to 12 noon on Monday was not reimposed, the ASP said.

A total of 43 persons have been arrested, the ASP said, adding, "Arrests are being made and the police is on the job to nab all those who were involved."

As a pre-emptive measure, the Dimapur Police has asked all business establishments to close down shops from noon today, he said.

DIG (Range, NAP) Liremo Lotha said in the morning that the situation was "under control".

Business activities had begun today with markets opening after three days.

Internet and SMS/MMS blackout in the state, which started on Saturday night after videos related to the lynching of the rape accused in Dimapur surfaced on the net, will continue till 6 pm today, official sources said.

The accused, Syed Farid Khan was arrested for raping a woman in Dimapur on February 24 and remanded in judicial custody the following day.

On March 5, a mob broke into Dimapur Central Jail, dragged him out, stripped him naked, beat him up, pelted him with stones and dragged him towards the centre of Dimapur town, seven kilometres away. He died from his injuries on the way after which the mob displayed his body from a clock tower.

He was buried at his native Bosla village in Karimganj district of Assam amidst tight security on Sunday.

Preliminary medical report of the woman confirmed that she had been raped, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) G Akheto Seema had said yesterday.