Agartala: Nine years after the shocking assault on a judge inside the Belonia Court in South Tripura District, three Left Front leaders have finally surrendered, following the Supreme Court’s directive. The case, dating back to 2015, had led to a prolonged legal battle over an alleged attack on Judge Ruhi Das Pal during a bandh called by Left Front affiliated trade unions.
CPI(M) South District Secretary Tapash Datta, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Belonia Divisional Secretary Babul Debnath and Trilokesh Sinha surrendered before the Belonia Court on Saturday. Confirming their surrender, government lawyer Kishore Majumdar said, “As per the Supreme Court’s direction, the three leaders accused of attacking Judge Ruhi Das Pal inside the court premises have surrendered today.”
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The incident took place on September 2, 2015, when CPI(M)-affiliated trade unions had called for a bandh. Allegedly, in the name of enforcing the shutdown, the three leaders, along with others, entered the Belonia Court premises and physically assaulted the judge. Then Belonia Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sudip Pal took suo motu cognizance of the attack and registered a case under Belonia Police Station (Case No. 113/15).
The incident took place on September 2, 2015, during a statewide shutdown called by Left-affiliated trade unions. The accused, along with a group of supporters, allegedly entered the court premises and physically attacked the judge. Then Belonia Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sudip Pal took immediate action and registered a suo motu cognizance under Belonia Police Station (Case No. 113/15)
Although the accused were initially arrested, they managed to secure bail after filing a petition in the Supreme Court. However, the latest ruling from the apex court overturned that relief and instructed them to surrender before the court.
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After years of legal proceedings, the District and Sessions Court of South Tripura, in May 2023, upheld their conviction and sentenced them to two years of rigorous imprisonment. The court found them guilty of unlawful assembly, disrupting court proceedings, and obstructing a judicial officer from carrying out official duties.
Speaking on the case, government advocate Akhtar Hossain Majumder stated, “The attack inside the Belonia Court was a serious attempt to disrupt the legal system. The convicted leaders played an active role in the incident, which hindered the court’s functioning on the day of the CPI(M)-backed bandh.”
The case was prosecuted under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including criminal trespass (IPC Section 447), preventing a public servant from performing duty (Sections 353 and 332), and common intention (Section 34). After a detailed hearing, the court found them guilty on all charges and pronounced the sentence. District and Sessions Judge Ashutosh Pandey delivered the verdict.
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The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing on March 18.