KHONSA 19 May: One Rabidhan Chakma @Swapan Kumar Chakma of Diyun has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine for the offence of murder and other sentences under Section 380 & 201 of IPC by the District and Sessions Court, Khonsa here on Wednesday.
The accused had committed the crime 22 years ago.
On 1 August, 1999, the accused Rabidhan Chakma had a quarrel with one Santosh Kumar Hajong regarding the homestead land of the accused. He hit Santosh Kumar Hajong’s head with a big rock and killed him then in order to mislead the police stole a bicycle from Jyotipur village and kept it near the dead body to create an impression as if the death was an accident.
During the investigation, Diyun PS Sub-inspector Amar Nath Singh found that the deceased did not own the bicycle and that it was stolen from a person in Jyotipur village on the same night. It was revealed during investigation that accused Rabidhan Chakma had cold-bloodedly murdered Santosh Hajong as revenge following their previous enmity. A confessional statement of the accused was also recorded by JMFC, Diyun.
Initially, the case was pending before the court of Changlang deputy commissioner. The case was then transferred to FTC, Namsai and thereafter to the District and Sessions Court, East Session Division at Tezu. After the creation of Sessions Court at Khonsa, the case was tried by District and Sessions Judge H Kashyap.
The accused Rabidhan Chakma, who was earlier released on bail, was re-arrested and the case was tried expeditiously. He has been convicted under Section 302 for the offence of murder, 380 for the offence of theft and 201 for the offence for causing the disappearance of evidence to screen himself from any legal punishment. (DIPRO)
