Court acquits accused in Sourav Bora murder case

From our Staff Correspondent

DIBRUGARH, APRIL 23: The remaining three accused in the murder of student leader of Dibrugarh University, Sourav Bora, have also been acquitted. The Additiol District Judge, Dibrugarh Abu Bakar Siddique, after hearing all the witnesses, in his fil judgment served on Wednesday, acquitted all the accused beyond reasoble doubt.  

Sourav Bora, a student of Dibrugarh University (DU) was murdered by unidentified assailants in front of the new boys’ hostel in the DU campus at 6.45 pm on May 27,1986. The murder created a considerable flutter in the student community in general and political are in particular. A case was registered at Dibrugarh Police Station vide no 398/86.

The case was later handed over to CBI in 1988 for an investigation. The CBI completed the investigation on June 26, 1990 and submit charge sheet against six accused, then Registrar of DU, Divyahas Goswami, then student leader Sarbanda Sonowal, Biren Barua, Kusheswar Saikia, Ramesh Dutta and Mridul Dutta. The trial of the case started in Dibrugarh court in 2009. The Additiol District Judge, discharged Biren Barua as there was no prima facie material found against him.

Divya Has Goswami and Sarbanda Sonowal filed a revision petition against the charge order in the Gauhati High Court and after reviewing the petition, the High Court discharged Sonowal in 2012.

The trial once again began here in 2012 against remaining accused – Divya Has Goswami, Ramesh Dutta, Mridul Dutta and Kusheswar Saikia. One of the accused, Ramesh Dutta passed away during trial. The 51 witnesses were produced before the court out of which 19 witnesses were produced by the CBI whose statements were recorded. After hearing arguments of both sides, the Additiol District Judge acquitted all three accused beyond reasoble doubt.

The case was pleaded on behalf of the accused by advocate Abhimunya Barua, with senior advocate Biman Baruah and assisted by Kabita Bharali Bora.