A Unakoti court sentenced mediator Hasukrai Debbarma to five years’ rigorous imprisonment for stabbing fellow mediator Subesh Debbarma during a village settlement meeting in Shantir Bazar, Fatikroy, in a case dating back to October 2022.
In a dramatic case arising out of a village-level settlement meeting that itself turned violent, the Unakoti District and Sessions Court on Thursday sentenced a man to five years’ rigorous imprisonment for stabbing a fellow mediator during the proceedings at Shantir Bazar under Fatikroy police station.
District and Sessions Judge Prakash Kumar convicted Hasukrai Debbarma and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 5,000. In default of payment of the fine, he will have to undergo an additional two months in jail.
Public Prosecutor Sunirmal Deb, who conducted the case on behalf of the prosecution, said the incident dated back to October 5, 2022.
According to the prosecution, an orchestra programme had been organised at Shantir Bazar on the night of October 4, 2022. After watching the programme through the night, Pabhir Debbarma and Chhania Debbarma were returning home together early the following morning when they were allegedly intercepted and assaulted by Ripon Debbarma, Khokon Debbarma and Bhoyel Debbarma.
The two injured persons subsequently went to Fatikroy Primary Health Centre for treatment and also verbally informed Fatikroy police about the incident.
In an attempt to resolve the dispute locally, a settlement meeting was convened at the Shantir Bazar market shed at around 10 am the same day. Several local mediators attended the meeting. Hasukrai Debbarma represented the side of Pabhir and Chhania, while Subesh Debbarma participated as a mediator on behalf of Ripon, Bhoyel and Khokon.
The meeting, however, took a violent turn just as it was nearing its conclusion. According to the prosecution, an altercation broke out between Hasukrai and Subesh during the proceedings. In the heat of the quarrel, Hasukrai allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Subesh in the abdomen in full view of those present.
Subesh collapsed on the ground bleeding profusely. He was immediately rushed to Fatikroy Primary Health Centre, from where he was referred to the Unakoti District Hospital at Kailashahar. As his condition deteriorated, doctors at the district hospital subsequently referred him to GB Hospital in Agartala for advanced treatment.
Subesh survived the attack and recovered after undergoing treatment for nearly three months.
On October 6, a day after the incident, Subesh’s brother, Rabi Chand Debbarma, lodged a written complaint with Fatikroy police against Hasukrai Debbarma, Bhoyel Debbarma, Khokon Debbarma and Ripon Debbarma.
Police registered a case under Sections 323, 326, 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and subsequently arrested all four accused.
Sub-Inspector Biplab Debbarma, the investigating officer of the case, submitted the chargesheet before the court on October 31, 2022. During the trial, the prosecution examined a total of 12 witnesses.
After nearly four years of trial, District and Sessions Judge Prakash Kumar on Thursday found all four accused guilty.
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While Hasukrai Debbarma was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000, the court took into consideration the age and other circumstances of Ripon Debbarma, Bhoyel Debbarma and Khokon Debbarma and awarded them one-year conditional sentences.
The case drew considerable attention locally, particularly because a meeting convened to peacefully settle an earlier assault ultimately resulted in one of the mediators himself being stabbed by another.
