Police officer convicted for custodial torture in Tripura

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Agartala, May 27: A retired Inspector of Police, Debojyoti Gautam has been convicted for torturing a young man while he was in police custody 16 years ago. The judicial Magistrate (1st class) Ishita Da delivering her judgement convicted Gautam for one year rigorous imprisonment under section 342 of IPC and another two years under section 325 of IPC.

According to the allegation, the police of the Sidhai police station under Mohonpur sub-division of West Tripura district picked up one Parimal Debth from his house at Mohonpur on June 20, 2000 and kept him detained for whole night in the police station. In the next morning he was taken to the office of the Circle Inspector Gautam.

After asking few question Gautam started beating the victim mercilessly causing serious injuries to his body. He had to undergo a prolonged treatment first at Mohonpur and then in GB hospital at Agartala.

The victim Parimal who happens to be the son of a former CPI(M) MLA Radha Raman Debth filed a complaint with the higher authority but failed to evoke desired response. Rather in the me of investigation, one senior police officer threatened him of dire consequences if he doesn’t agree to withdraw the complaint.

Realising the futility of the complaint with the police Radha Raman Debth, father of the victim, went to court and filed a case. After a prolonged hearing and examition of the witnesses the judge delivered her verdict on Tuesday. Purusuttam Roy Barman, advocate and a human right activist, welcomed the verdict and said it will have impact all over the country at a time when incidents of custodial torture are increasing.