Jorhat (Assam): A year after the brutal killing of a doctor by an irate mob at a tea estate in Assam's Jorhat district, a local court on Monday convicted 25 persons for their involvement in the murder. The quantum of punishment would be pronounced on Oct 19.
The brutal murder of Dr Deben Dutta, Senior Medical Officer at a dispensary took place inside the dispensary at Teok Tea Estate on 31st August 2019. The irate mob attacked the senior doctor over the death of a tea garden labourer in the dispensary and thrashed him to death. The mob also vandalized the dispensary alleging wrong treatment leading to the death of the labourer.
Jorhat District and Sessions Judge, Robin Phukan pronounced the much-awaited judgment on Monday and convicted the 25 persons under various sections of the IPC.
Since the minimum punishment under the provisions of law that were invoked is life imprisonment, it is believed that the case is going to set a record on various counts.
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The sensational killing of Dutta drew condemnations not only from medical fraternity but also from all over India and a series of demonstrations took place across the state demanding stringent action against the perpetrators. Following the killing, several doctors also resigned from tea garden areas in protest against the brutal murder.
The Assam Police Team instituted an SIT in this regard headed by Dr Siva Prasad, DIG, Eastern Range, who had investigated and concluded the case in a record time of 21 days and filed an elaborate 602-page chargesheet on Sep 21 last year. This is the first case in the country wherein “witness identity concealment approach” was used.
