The Diphu District court on Monday announced 12 of the 16 accused as criminals of the brutal mob lynching case of Jhankar Saikia. The court will also announce the punishment of the accused on February 28.

The court has also announced four persons as fault-free. ASI Ramesh Nath, Habilder Harun Bora have been said as free from the crime.

Jhankar Saikia was beaten to death in 2013 by a groupof auto-rickshaw drivers and was later shifted to a private hospital in acritical condition. Jhankar did not survive the brutality and was declareddead.

The verdict has been given after seven years under thefast-track hearing instructed by Justice Anowaruddin Ahmed.