Police Arrest 42 in India Mob Lynching of Rape Suspect

Police in the remote state of Nagaland, India have arrested 42 suspects in connection with the recent death of a rape suspect, who was forcibly removed from a local prison by an angry mob who then brutally beat him in the streets before lynching him.

The incident happened last Thursday evening when thousands of angry protesters rushed a high security prison in Dimapur, Nagaland and removed 35-year-old Bangladeshi businessman Syed Sharif Khan, who was accused of raping an Indian woman.

Police reportedly used tear gas and bamboo canes to fend off protesters, but were unable to rescue the suspect before he was beaten and lynched by the angry mob.

Local police have now begun arresting suspects involved in the lynching as members of the country's Congress and Assembly in Assam raised concern over the incident.

"Some of these 42 arrested men were also directly involved in the lynching, and will face additional charges," Inspector General of Police Wabang Jamir told the AFP in a recent interview.

The Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dimapur Kakheto added to India.com that "police are on the job to nab all those who were involved."

Police have reportedly been patrolling the streets of Dimapur to ensure there is no more civil unrest, and internet was blocked over the weekend after videos of the lynching were posted online.

The recent lynching has stirred racial tensions in India, with some arguing that the mob attack was fueled by racial tensions between Indians and Bangladeshi immigrants.