Twenty-five convicted in Dr. Deben Dutta murder case

A CORRESPONDENT

JORHAT: Twenty-five accused were convicted on Monday of murder with rioting and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the district and sessions court, Jorhat, for killing Dr Deben Dutta, physician at the Teok Tea garden hospital, on August 31, 2019.

The district and sessions court, Jorhat, Judge Robin Phukan sentenced all the convicts under Sections 302/149, 342/149, 353/148, 353/149 of IPC. Over and above, 12 out of the 25 have been sentenced under section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act (Assam Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2011. Two out of the 25 have been sentenced under section 148 IPC and 23 out of 25 under section 147 IPC.

The court said that the quantum of the sentences for each would be pronounced on October 19.

Those who have been convicted are Sanjay Rajowar (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Sanjib Rajowar (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Suresh Rajowar, Ajoy Majhi (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Upendra Bhumij; Ratul Rajowar (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Bablu Rajowar (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Anil Majhi; Bijoy Rajowar (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Bolin Rajowar; Dipak Rajowar; Milon Rajowar; Rinku Majhi (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Mishilal Majhi; Sibcharan Mahali (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Debeswar Rajowar; Kartik Bhumiz; Sanjoy Rajowar (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Kalicharan Mahali (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Rameswar Bhumiz; Siba Mahali (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Rahul Rajowar (section 4 of AMSP and MSI Act); Kalanag Majhi; Manoj Majhi and Rinku Bakti.

Those who were acquitted are Debesawar Rajowar, son of Samla Rajowar; Arjun Majhi, Arun Majhi, Gulu Deb Majhi, Pritam Majhi alias Chotu Bhai and Sanju Majhi. One accused, Hari Majhi (46) died of an ailment in jail on September 23 and had been declared brought dead by doctors at the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH).

There were total 60 witnesses out of which 56 were examined. Additional public prosecutor of Jorhat, Angshuman Baruah and another advocate, Tridib Dutta helped the special public prosecutor with the case. The defense was represented by advocate Anup Kumar Dutta.

Aparajita Dutta, wife of Dr Deben Dutta, who was in court, said that she was happy with the judgment.

Durga Prasad Jaiswal, special public prosecutor appointed for the case, expressed satisfaction over the judgment. Jaiswal hoped that exemplary punishment would be meted out to the convicts.

The chargesheet had been filed by the police within record 22 days under the then Superintendent of Police, Vaibhav C Nimbalkar. This is said to be the shortest time in Assam.

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