Viral fake news about Indian child snatchers leads to mob killings

Hysteria spreads via social media as villagers despair over lack of action on missing kids

Mr Abhijeet Nath (left) and Mr Nilotpal Das, who were in an Assam district to look for rare fish and to record nature sounds respectively, were beaten to death last week by a vigilante mob.
Mr Abhijeet Nath (left) and Mr Nilotpal Das, who were in an Assam district to look for rare fish and to record nature sounds respectively, were beaten to death last week by a vigilante mob. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/ABHIJEET NATH, FACEBOOK/NILOTPAL DAS
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The two friends were soaking in the renowned beauty of Karbi Anglong, a picturesque hilly district in the eastern state of Assam.

Mr Nilotpal Das, a sound engineer, was scouting for interesting nature sounds, and his businessman friend, Mr Abhijeet Nath, had an eye out for rare fish species to add to his aquarium collection.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 14, 2018, with the headline Viral fake news about Indian child snatchers leads to mob killings. Subscribe