The Nagaland government has informed the Centre that rape allegations against Syed Sarif Khan, who was lynched after being dragged out of jail in Dimapur, were false.

However, a report by the state government has not given any explanation on how the mob reached the jail and identified him.

Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday and apprised him about the situation in the state.

Silchar town in Assam wears a deserted look during a bandh called by political parties protesting against the lynching of Syed Sarif Khan in Dimapur

During their meeting, Zeliang briefed Singh about the circumstances that led to the lynching of the rape accused. He, however, did not comment on whether the incident was rape or consensual sex.

“We cannot comment on anything because investigation is still on. Neither we are saying it was a rape case nor we are saying it was consensual sex,” he said.

Officials suspect a communal overtone of the incident following propaganda on social media about Khan’s arrest by people leading a movement against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Nagaland. Khan was not a Bangladeshi though.

After the lynching incident, another misinformation campaign has led to apprehensions that there could be a backlash against people from the North-East living in Pune, Bengalaru and Gurgaon.

Following the intelligence reports, the Union home ministry has sent advisories to state governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Haryana to be wary of such attacks on North-East population.

The Nagaland government report has no mention of the circumstances that led the mob to storm the jail. Instead the focus is on Khan’s statement that he had consensual sex with the complainant twice and paid Rs 5,000, but she alleged rape after he refused to pay more.

The report is based on Khan’s statement to the police after his arrest.

Since his arrest on February 24, Khan was in the Dimpaur central jail.

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

Sources say a widespread campaign on social media against Bangladeshi immigrants was launched that instigated the locals.

“There is definitely a communal angle to the entire incident. A judicial inquiry has been initiated to probe all aspects,” said a home ministry official.

A Twitter handle has also come under the scanner for posting provocative views after Khan’s arrest.

There was a Naga accomplice of Khan, who was also arrested along with him and was in jail, but he was not touched by the mob.

More than 40 people have been arrested and many officials suspended so far.

The Nagaland government also said investigation into the case was still on and based on the medical examination and forensic evidence, the case could be taken forward.

Forensic evidence collected from the alleged rape victim and Khan has been sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Guwahati.