Dimapur: The police arrested 22 people over last week’s storming of a high security prison in Dimapur and subsequent lynching of a rape suspect, an act of mob violence that sparked protests in a region divided on religious and ethnic lines.
Thousands of people of Nagaland attacked the prison in Dimapur to drag out a rape suspect, beat him to death and tie his body to a clock tower on Thursday forcing authorities to impose a curfew to restore order.
Inspector general of police, Wabang Jamir, said situation was tense but under control.
He commented on the 18 arrests made at the time, which later increased to 22.
“Till now 18 arrests have been made for unlawful assembling, rioting and arson. We are in the process of establishing the complicity of these arrested persons in the case of lynching also,” Jamir said.
Police said they were struggling to identify people directly involved in the murder of Syed Farid Khan, 35, who had been accused of raping a 19-year-old Naga tribal woman multiple times.
The rape victim said she knew the accused as she and his wife were from the same village and also admitted taking 5,000 rupees to save her life.
“He threatened to kill me. So fearing for my life, I took the money to save my life during the night and left. If I wanted the money then why I would file FIR in the police station? That is a false allegation,” said the rape victim.
Police confirmed the rape of the victim after receiving a medical report.
“The medical report, which is with the police, prima facie indicates that rape was committed on the victim. The doctor has taken some samples which have been sent for forensic analysis,” Jamir added.
Khan’s family has accused police of falsely implicating him in the rape to try to root out Muslims from Nagaland.