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{{Short description|In Nagaland, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Citation style|date=September 2025}}

The '''2015 Dimapur mob lynching''' was a case of [[mob lynching]] that took place in [[Dimapur]], [[Nagaland]], [[India]], on 5 March 2015.<ref name="Dragged">{{cite news|title=Rape accused dragged out of jail, lynched in Nagaland|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rape-accused-dragged-out-of-jail-lynched-in-Nagaland/articleshow/46471326.cms|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=5 March 2015}}</ref> A [[Ochlocracy|mob]] of about 7000–8000 people broke into a prison, dragged a man detained under accused of rape out of the Dimapur Central Jail, paraded him naked and beat him to death in a case of [[Vigilantism|vigilante justice]].<ref name="NoArrests">{{cite news|title=Dimapur mob lynching case: Situation remains tense in Assam, Nagaland; no arrests so far|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dimapur-mob-lynching-case-situation-remains-tense-in-assam-nagaland-no-arrests-so-far/532522-3-226.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308011811/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dimapur-mob-lynching-case-situation-remains-tense-in-assam-nagaland-no-arrests-so-far/532522-3-226.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 March 2015|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[IBNLive]]|date=7 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 March 2015 |title=India lynch mob: Police arrest 22 over vigilante-style murder of rape suspect |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-09/india-lynch-mob3a-police-arrest-22-over-vigilante-style-murder/6289754 |access-date=8 March 2015 |work=ABC |agency=Agence France-Presse and Reuters}}</ref>

The incident took place in the backdrop of widespread public anger over rising [[Rape in India|sexual violence against women in India]] and a controversy over a ban on the documentary ''[[India's Daughter]]'', based on the [[2012 Delhi gang rape]], and concerns in Nagaland over [[Illegal immigration in India#Political concerns over Bangladeshi illegal immigrants|illegal immigration from Bangladesh]].<ref name=AlJazeeraMob>{{cite news| url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2015/03/irate-indian-mob-lynches-rape-accused-150305174906211.html | title=Indian mob raid prison and lynch rape suspect | work=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] | date=5 March 2015 | access-date=12 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=HinduVigilantism>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/vigilantism-in-dimapur/article6972016.ece | title=Vigilantism in Dimapur | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=9 March 2015 | access-date=12 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=NYTSmoldering>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/09/world/in-neighborhood-of-indian-rapists-smoldering-anger-and-code-of-silence.html?_r=0 | title=In Indian Rapists' Neighborhood, Smoldering Anger and Code of Silence | work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Ellen Barry | date=8 March 2015 | access-date=12 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="illegal ">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/06/suspected-rapist-lynched-outside-indian-prison | title=Suspected rapist lynched outside Indian prison | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=6 March 2015 | access-date=12 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=BBCLynch>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31753944 | title=Angry Indians lynch rape suspect after breaking into jail | work=[[BBC News]] | date=5 March 2015 | access-date=12 March 2015}}</ref>

==Events==
{{Location map | India
| width =
| float =
| caption = Location of Dimapur in India
| alt = Location of Dimapur in India
| label = Dimapur
| label_size = 100 
| position = bottom
| background = orange
| mark = Orange_pog.svg
| marksize = 8 
| lat_deg = 25.9200
| lon_deg = 93.7300
}}

===Alleged rape===
According to the [[first information report]] (FIR) filed by the victim, a 20-year-old student of Shri Digamber Jain Girls' College,<ref name=MirrorCivil>{{cite news| url=http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/2015/03/civil-society-cries-out-against-alleged-rape-in-dimapur/|title=Civil society cries out against alleged rape in Dimapur|work=Eastern Mirror|date=5 March 2015 | accessdate=12 March 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402212312/http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/2015/03/civil-society-cries-out-against-alleged-rape-in-dimapur/|archivedate=2 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="accomplish">{{cite news |author1=Ahuja |first=Rajesh |author2=Karmakar |first2=Rahul |date=10 March 2015 |title=Naga accomplice of rape accused spared from lynching: Report |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/naga-accomplice-of-rape-accused-spared-from-lynching-report/article1-1324472.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309231856/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/naga-accomplice-of-rape-accused-spared-from-lynching-report/article1-1324472.aspx |archive-date=9 March 2015 |accessdate=12 March 2015 |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> was raped in Hotel De Oriental Dream<ref name=43persons/><ref name="Outside">{{cite news |last=Mitra |first=Dola |date=30 March 2015 |title=A Story From Outside |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/a-story-from-outside-news-293755 |accessdate=21 November 2025 |work=[[Outlook India]]}}</ref> in [[Dimapur]] on 23 February 2015. The accused Farid Khan and his accomplice Nikavi, alias Ngukav forcibly assaulted her and intoxicated her. Then Farid Khan had allegedly raped her multiple times.<ref name="accomplish" /><ref name="HushMoney"/><ref name="Lured"/> The accused and his accomplice were arrested on 25 February 2015 for rape and assault, and were lodged in Dimapur Central Jail. They had been charged under [[Indian Penal Code]] sections 476, 344 and 363.<ref name=SchoolUniforms/><ref name=epao>{{cite news| url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=24..130315.mar15 | title=Nagaland Govt clarifies on 'no rape' report|work=E-Pao|accessdate=14 March 2015}}</ref>

The rape victim later in an interview claimed that she had been given {{currency|5000|INR}} by the accused to remain silent about the incident. She said that the man was known to her as her neighbor and his wife belonged to the same village as her. She also said that she was lured into a car by a friend, who then left. The man then intoxicated her and raped her several times. She later reported it to the police and handed over the money.<ref name=HushMoney>{{cite news|title=Lynched man gave me Rs 5000 as hush money: Woman|url=http://www.sify.com/news/lynched-man-gave-me-rs-5000-as-hush-money-woman-news-national-pdhwj2cdfeehc.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309053642/http://www.sify.com/news/lynched-man-gave-me-rs-5000-as-hush-money-woman-news-national-pdhwj2cdfeehc.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2015|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[Sify]]|date=7 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Lured">{{cite news |last=Gupta Kashyap |first=Samudra |date=8 March 2015 |title=Dimapur lynching: Student says was 'lured' by friend, taken to Syed Sharif Khan |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/dimapur-lynching-student-says-was-lured-by-friend-taken-to-syed-sharif-khan/ |accessdate=8 March 2015 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> The accused Farid Khan told Nagaland Police in his interrogation that he had consensual sex with her for which he had given her money.<ref name="consensual">{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Vijaita |date=12 March 2015 |title=Dimapur lynching: It was 'consensual sex' not rape, says Nagaland govt report |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/dimapur-mob-lynching-victim-was-never-raped-nagaland-govt-tells-mha/?SocialMedia |accessdate=12 March 2015 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

===Identity of the man===
Initially, the man was thought to be an illegal immigrant from [[Bangladesh]].<ref name=Infiltrator/> The accused was later named as Syed Sarif Uddin Khan, alias Farid, a 35-year-old [[used car]] businessman. Originally from, [[Karimganj district]] of [[Assam]], he had been living in Nagaland for 8 years. He was married to a Naga lady for 4 years and had a three-year-old daughter.<ref name="Infiltrator">{{cite news |last=Gupta Kashyap |first=Samudra |date=6 March 2015 |title=Nagaland: Angry mob raids Dimapur Central Jail, lynches 35-year-old rape accused alleged to be 'Bangladeshi infiltrator' |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/nagaland-mob-break-into-prison-drag-out-and-lynch-rape-accused-to-death/ |accessdate=8 March 2015 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref name=Rush/><ref name="FinalName">{{Cite news |date=31 December 2015 |title=Dimapur lynching and the unending wait for justice |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/dimapur-lynching-and-the-unending-wait-for-justice/cid/1528290 |access-date=20 March 2024 |work=The Telegraph (India) |quote=Syed Sarif Uddin Khan, alias Farid, was arrested by Nagaland police on February 24 after an FIR was filed by a girl from Nagaland accusing him of raping her.}}</ref>

The family of the accused claimed that he was framed. One of his brothers, who also lived in Dimapur and ran a business said the woman who had filed the case was close to the accused's family and was well-acquainted with his wife. He claims that the woman had invited Farid to a hotel with some other persons on 23 February, and that she forced him to drink and demanded {{currency|200,000|INR}} from him. He asserts that on being refused, she filed a case the next day.<ref name=Rush/>

===Mob attack===
On 5 March, about 7000-8000 people broke into the Dimapur Central Jail.<ref name=NoArrests/> They dragged the accused out, while parading him naked, pelted him with stones and beat him. They dragged the accused to a [[clock tower]] about 7km away, by tying a rope to his waist from a motorcycle. The accused died on the way.<ref name=NoArrests/><ref name=Rush/><ref name=Telecom/> The body was displayed from the clock tower's railings, until the police came and took it down.<ref name=Truckers>{{cite news|title=Dimapur lynching: Assam truckers stop plying to Nagaland|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dimapur-lynching-assam-truckers-stop-plying-to-nagaland/article6969318.ece|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 March 2015}}</ref> The [[Superintendent of Police]] Meren Jamir later said that the mob was led by a group of a few hundred school and college girls in uniforms, which prevented the police from using more force. Jamir said that the initial crowd was small and they had been repelled by [[baton charge]]s. But, later the mob returned with larger numbers.<ref name=SchoolUniforms/> Even though 8 [[Company (military unit)|companies]] of security forces were present at the jail, they failed to stop the mob.<ref name=NoArrests/> The police later said that there was at least one former inmate of the prison, who knew the interior layout of the jail.<ref name=ExInmateRape>{{cite news|title=Dimapur: How an ex-inmate led lynch mob to rape-accused in jail|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/how-an-ex-inmate-led-lynch-mob-to-rape-accused-in-dimapur-jail/|accessdate=17 August 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=11 March 2015}}</ref>

The police had fired blanks and [[tear gas]] at the crowd but had failed to disperse them.<ref name=Dragged/> One member of the mob was killed and 52 members of the police were injured in the clashes. The mob also burnt 10 police vehicles.<ref name=Rush/>

Initially, it was reported that the man was an [[illegal immigrant]] from [[Bangladesh]]. There had been calls from local organisations to expel outsiders. The incident was also attributed to the faulty justice system of the state, which had obtained few convictions in various cases of rape.<ref name=Rush>{{cite news|title=Rush to pre-empt lynching backlash|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150307/jsp/nation/story_7334.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307105024/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150307/jsp/nation/story_7334.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 March 2015|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[The Telegraph (India)]]|date=7 March 2015}}</ref> The man's local accomplice who was lodged in same jail was left alone by the mob.<ref name=accomplish/>

===Aftermath===
In the home state of the accused, [[Assam]], All Assam Minority Students' Union burnt an [[effigy]] of the Nagaland government in [[Nagaon]], accusing the government of discriminating against minorities living in the state, and demanded an investigation by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) on 6 March.<ref name=GogoiMoves>{{cite news|title=Lynch backlash alert in Assam — Gogoi moves Delhi, Zeliang|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150307/jsp/northeast/story_7239.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307105104/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150307/jsp/northeast/story_7239.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 March 2015|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[The Telegraph (India)]]|date=6 March 2015}}</ref>

On 6 March, Assam Chief Minister [[Tarun Gogoi]] condemned the attack and discussed the matter with Home Minister [[Rajnath Singh]] and Nagaland Chief Minister [[T. R. Zeliang]].<ref name=GogoiMoves/> Dimapur Deputy Police Commissioner Wezope Kenye and Superintendent of Police Meren Jamir were suspended on the evening of 6 March. The Central Jail Chief was also suspended.<ref name=Fires>{{cite news|title=Nagaland fires 3 policemen after mob lynches rapist to death|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150307/nation-current-affairs/article/nagaland-fires-3-cops-killing-rape-accused-publicly|access-date=7 March 2015|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=7 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=Rush/><ref name=Judicial/> Residents of Nagaland were asked to avoid traveling into Assam. Shops and commercial established remained closed on 6 March in Dimapur under a [[curfew]].<ref name=Rush/><ref name=Curfew/>

On 7 March, [[trucker]]s from Assam stopped moving goods into Nagaland in protest of the incident. They also alleged they are harassed in Nagaland and asked to pay illegal tolls.<ref name=Truckers/> [[Amnesty International|Amnesty International India]] on 7 March demanded an investigation into the incident, calling it a serious lapse of the justice system.<ref name=Amnesty>{{cite news|title=Amnesty International Demands Investigation into Nagaland Lynching|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/amnesty-international-demands-investigation-into-nagaland-lynching-744806|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[NDTV]]|date=7 March 2015}}</ref> The curfew continued in Dimapur.<ref name=Curfew>{{cite news|title=Curfew continues for 2nd day in Dimapur, Nagaland CM admits to administrative lapses|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/curfew-continues-for-2nd-day-in-dimapur-nagaland-cm-admits-to-administrative-lapses/532456-3-226.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150309154805/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/curfew-continues-for-2nd-day-in-dimapur-nagaland-cm-admits-to-administrative-lapses/532456-3-226.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2015|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[NDTV]]|date=7 March 2015}}</ref> Chief Minister Zeliang said that there had been administrative lapses and that relaxing the Section 177 of the [[CrPC]], which prohibits [[unlawful assembly]], in Nagaland was a mistake.<ref name=NoArrests/> He also said that the [[social media]] was responsible for inciting the incident.<ref name=SocialMedia>{{cite news|title=Nagaland CM blames social media for lynching, rape suspect's brother says attack politically motivated|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nagaland-cm-blames-social-media-for-lynching-rape-suspect-s-brother-calls-attack-political/article1-1323837.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308023422/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nagaland-cm-blames-social-media-for-lynching-rape-suspect-s-brother-calls-attack-political/article1-1323837.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 March 2015|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=7 March 2015}}</ref> Later, Nagaland government restricted telecom services in the region.<ref name=Telecom>{{cite news|title=Nagaland lynching: Many arrests made, telecom services restricted|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nagaland-mob-lynching-several-arrests-made-telecom-services-restricted/article1-1324005.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308095433/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nagaland-mob-lynching-several-arrests-made-telecom-services-restricted/article1-1324005.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 March 2015|accessdate=8 March 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=8 March 2015}}</ref> [[Internet]] was blocked for 48 hours in the state starting on the night of 7 March. [[SMS]] and [[Multimedia Messaging Service|MMS]] services were also blocked.<ref name=InternetSMS>{{cite news|title=Internet, SMS services blocked in Nagaland after lynching of rape accused|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-internet-sms-services-blocked-in-nagaland-after-lynching-of-rape-accused-2066973|accessdate=8 March 2015|work=[[DNA India]]|date=8 March 2015}}</ref>

Also on 7 March, Chief Minister Gogoi blamed the security force of the central government for failing to protect the jail.<ref name=GogoiBlames>{{cite news|title=Lynching incident: Tarun Gogoi blames central forces|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/article/miscellaneous/lynching-incident-tarun-gogoi-blames-central-forces/51177/|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[The Financial Express (India)]]|date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308100104/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/miscellaneous/lynching-incident-tarun-gogoi-blames-central-forces/51177/|archive-date=8 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gogoi also claimed that the medical report had not confirmed rape. The brother of the dead also repeated the claim. The body was airlifted to the dead's hometown in Bosla village in [[Karimganj district]].<ref name=DontConfirmRape>{{cite news|title=Anger mounts over Nagaland lynching, Assam CM says medical reports don't confirm rape|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/anger-mounts-over-mob-lynching-of-man-unconfirmed-medical-reports-say-rape-ruled-out/article1-1323920.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308104414/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/anger-mounts-over-mob-lynching-of-man-unconfirmed-medical-reports-say-rape-ruled-out/article1-1323920.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 March 2015|accessdate=8 March 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=8 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=Airlifted>{{cite news|title=Dimapur lynch victim's body airlifted to Assam|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/dimapur-lynch-victim-s-body-airlifted-to-assam/50713.html|accessdate=8 March 2015|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=7 March 2015}}</ref>

On 8 March, the body of the man was buried in his village.<ref name=Buried>{{cite news|title=Nagaland lynching: Victim buried as protests rock Assam; internet, SMS services blocked|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nagaland-lynching-Victim-buried-as-protests-rock-Assam-internet-SMS-services-blocked/articleshow/46493548.cms|accessdate=8 March 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=8 March 2015}}</ref> About, 4000 Bengali Muslims had left Nagaland by then, fearing attacks.<ref name=BengaliMuslim>{{cite news|title=21 arrests made in lynching case, 4,000 Bengali Muslims leave Nagaland|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/curfew-clamped-in-dimapur-21-arrests-made-in-connection-with-lynching/article1-1324119.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309041113/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/curfew-clamped-in-dimapur-21-arrests-made-in-connection-with-lynching/article1-1324119.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2015|accessdate=8 March 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=8 March 2015}}</ref>

On 10 March 2015, the protesters agitated against the 5 March 2015, incident at [[Hojai]]. The protesters blocked the railway tracks near the [[Hojai railway station]]. Therefore, the lone train service the [[Nagaland Express]] originating from [[Dimapur]] to [[Guwahati]] was made to halt for nearly an hour at Lanka Railway Station.<ref name=ProtestatHojai>{{cite news|title=Protesters block Hojai Railway tracks|url=http://morungexpress.com/protesters-block-hojai-railway-tracks/|work=[[The Morung Express]]|date=10 March 2015|archive-date=2 June 2019|access-date=2 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602185237/http://morungexpress.com/protesters-block-hojai-railway-tracks/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Investigation===
On 6 March, it was reported that the police were examining the [[CCTV]] footage from the Dimapur hotel where the rape had allegedly taken place.<ref name=Rush/> The Superintendent of Police, Meren Jamir said that the footage showed the girl entering and leaving the room with the accused.<ref name="SchoolUniforms">{{cite news |last=Gupta Kashyap |first=Samudra |date=7 March 2015 |title=Hundreds of girls in school, college uniforms led lynch mob, says Dimapur SP |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/girls-in-school-college-uniforms-led-lynch-mob-says-dimapur-sp/ |accessdate=7 March 2015 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> On the same day, it was announced that Zeilang's state cabinet had appointed Veprasa Nyekha, a retired district and sessions judge, to head a judicial inquiry commission.<ref name="Judicial">{{cite news |date=6 March 2015 |title=Nagaland lynching rape accused: 3 suspended, judicial probe ordered |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nagaland-lynching-rape-accused-3-suspended-judicial-probe-ordered/articleshow/46479226.cms |accessdate=7 March 2015 |work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

On 8 March, [[Inspector-General of Police]] Wabang Jamir said from initial medical report it appeared the girl was raped and that the samples had been sent to a forensic lab.<ref name="ConfirmsRape">{{cite news |last=Kalita |first=Prabin |date=8 March 2015 |title=Nagaland lynching: Medical test of Naga woman confirms rape |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nagaland-lynching-Medical-test-of-Naga-woman-confirms-rape/articleshow/46494340.cms |accessdate=8 March 2015 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> By 8 March, 22 people had been arrested in connection to the lynching. The arrests were made after the police analysed the video clips of the incidents.<ref name=Arrests>{{cite news|title=Nagaland: Eighteen arrested for Dimapur lynching incident|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-eighteen-arrested-for-dimapur-lynching-incident-2066946|accessdate=8 March 2015|work=[[DNA India]]|date=8 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="22Arrests">{{cite news |date=8 March 2015 |title=22 arrested for lynching rape accused in Nagaland's Dimapur |url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/lN85uIdLjh4wzrHb0cSYIN/Nagaland-18-arrested-for-Dimapur-lynching-incident.html |accessdate=8 March 2015 |work=[[Live Mint]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref> By 9 March, 43 people had been arrested in connection to the lynching.<ref name=43persons>{{cite news | url=http://www.nagalandpost.com/channelnews/state/StateNews.aspx?news=TkVXUzEwMDA3Njc5NA%3D%3D | title=March 5 violence: Nagaland Police apprehend 43 persons | publisher=[[Nagaland Post]] | date=10 March 2015 | accessdate=13 March 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Of those arrested, 25 were identified as the "core mob" group. The police found that most those who had joined the mob, had come in response to comments on two blogs: ''[[The Naga Blog]]'' and ''Naga Spear''. The protest march was initially intended to condemn the rape, but it became politically motivated. Soon afterwards, the [[district collector]] was asked to handover the accused but he refused. The mob kept vandalising sites and photographs were uploaded to the blogs. After the administrator of ''Naga Blog'' began deleting posts, the people moved to ''Naga Spear''. [[Instant messaging]] [[Mobile app|app]]s were also used to increase the size of the mob. The mob believed that they were lynching a Bangladeshi.<ref name="ExSepoy">{{cite news |last=Nair |first=Smita |date=13 March 2015 |title=In Nagaland lynch mob: airline staffer, ex-sepoy, auto driver and teachers |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/in-lynch-mob-airline-staffer-ex-sepoy-auto-driver-and-teachers/ |accessdate=17 August 2015 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>

On 11 March, it was reported that the Nagaland state government informed the [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] that the alleged rapist had claimed in the interrogation after his arrest that he had never raped the victim and that it was consensual sex for which he gave her {{currency|5000|INR}}.<ref name="consensual"/> But, Nagaland Chief Minister [[T. R. Zeliang]] later told ''[[The Times of India]]'' that the [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] had been misquoted by the media. Nagaland Government denied that it has stated that no rape had taken place and preliminary medical reports indicated rape and it had sent samples to the Central Forensic Laboratory in Guwahati.<ref name=CourtWillDecide>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Rape-or-not-court-will-decide-Nagaland-CM/articleshow/46532904.cms | title=Rape or not, court will decide: Nagaland CM | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=12 March 2015 | accessdate=13 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Surprises">{{cite news |last=IANS |date=11 March 2015 |title=Media Reports Ruling Out Nagaland Rape Surprises Police Chief |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Media-Reports-Ruling-Out-Nagaland-Rape-Surprises-Police-Chief/2015/03/11/article2708734.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314195205/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Media-Reports-Ruling-Out-Nagaland-Rape-Surprises-Police-Chief/2015/03/11/article2708734.ece |archive-date=14 March 2015 |accessdate=13 March 2015 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>

On 19 March 2015, after a cabinet meeting the Nagaland government recommended a [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) inquiry for the case. By then, the police had arrested 55 people and issued photos of 34 wanted suspects.<ref name="CBIprobe">{{cite news |last=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=19 March 2015 |title=Dimapur lynching case: Nagaland recommends CBI probe |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dimapur-lynching-case-nagaland-recommends-cbi-probe/article7011226.ece |accessdate=17 August 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

On 18 May 2015, a judicial commission, headed by retired [[Gauhati High Court]] judge B. D. Agarwal, began its investigation. The commission in a public notice asked local newspapers, associations, unions, blogs including ''Naga Blog'' and ''Naga Spear'', principals of schools and colleges, and family members of the victims to submit written statements regarding the lynching.<ref name="PeopleWritten">{{cite news |last=Gupta Kashyap |first=Samudra |date=19 May 2015 |title=Dimapur lynching: Judicial panel asks people to give written statements |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/judicial-probe-into-dimapur-lynching-begins/ |accessdate=17 August 2015 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> On 18 June 2015, it was reported that only three persons had submitted the requested statements.<ref name=SlowExtension>{{cite news|title=Dimapur lynching case: Slow progress in probe, panel gets extension|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/dimapur-lynching-case-slow-progress-in-probe-panel-gets-extension/|accessdate=17 August 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=18 June 2015}}</ref>

On 7 September 2015, the [[Gauhati High Court]] directed the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) to start a probe and submit a report within 6 months. The Court was hearing a [[public interest litigation]] (PIL) filed by one Rajeeb Kalita of [[Guwahati]]. By then, 58 people had been arrested and 32 persons had lookout notices on them.<ref name="CBIProbe-IE">{{cite news |last=Gupta Kashyap |first=Samudra |date=8 September 2016 |title=Gauhati HC orders CBI probe into Dimapur lynching |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/gauhati-hc-orders-cbi-probe-into-dimapur-lynching/ |accessdate=29 April 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>

In June 2016, a judiciary inquiry commission headed by retired justice B. D. Agrawal released its findings in a report. The report found the incident occurred due to the ineffectiveness of the police. The report pointed out that the mob took two hours to reach the Central Jail from the City Tower and spent more than three hours in breaking the jail gates.<ref name="2016Commission">{{Cite news |last=Gupta Kashyap |first=Samudra |date=6 June 2016 |title=Probe report on Dimapur lynching raps police for ineffectiveness |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/probe-report-on-dimapur-lynching-raps-police-for-ineffectiveness-2836516/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606023857/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/probe-report-on-dimapur-lynching-raps-police-for-ineffectiveness-2836516/ |archive-date=6 June 2016 |access-date=20 March 2024 |newspaper=The Indian Express |quote=The commission has described the mob as a “mini-size” protest — and comprising mostly girl students — and said “the executive officers and security forces appear to have surrendered before the small crowd for no valid reason”.}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lynching]]
* [[Rape in India]]
* [[2012 Delhi gang rape and murder]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==

* {{Cite news |date=18 March 2015 |title=A Lynching in Dimapur |url=https://openthemagazine.com/features/india/a-lynching-in-dimapur/ |work=Open, The Magazine}}

{{Lynching in India}}

{{coord missing|Nagaland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dimapur mob lynching, 2015}}
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2015 Dimapur mob lynching - Revision history

VanBoas1588 at 08:15, 28 March 2026