Seven get four years imprisonment for publicly torturing woman in Tripura

A local court has convicted seven persons and sent them to jail for four years for thrashing a woman in public after tying her to a pillar.

The incident occurred two years ago on the outskirts of Agartala, the state capital.

"The court under IPC Section 143, 147, 123, 342 and 354 (B) has found them guilty and according prescribed punishment of 3 months jail for 143, one year for 147, six months for 123, six months for 342 and four years for the 354 (B). Moreover, each has been fined with Rs 10,000 or six months imprisonment. Even the women found guilty will have same term of imprisonment," said Public Prosecutor Bhaskar Debbarma.

Soma Majumder (Debnath), a 37-year-old housewife was assaulted and molested by a group of people, including women, who tortured her inhumanly at Tata Kalibari on October 6, 2014.

According to report on October 5, some youths were consuming alcohol in public, which led her husband protested. But these youths forced him to drink alcohol.

The following day she was called to a local club and beaten and molested in full public glare by several people including some women. No one from the crowd came forward to her rescue.

The issue came to light when a local television channel aired the incident, triggering a major political storm against the Left Front government. People cutting across party lines strongly protested the incident.

After the incident, the victim went to a local women police station where cops refused to lodge her complaint and later after the then Governor had to intervene she was able to lodge an FIR against 20 persons.

Today the court has found seven person including three women guilty and ordered their imprisonment for four years along with fine of Rs 10000 each or another addition six months in jail.

A total of 46 still photographs, recovered materials - rope, sandal along with a video footage showing the humiliation of Soma by tying her to a pillar in public were sent to Forensic Laboratory in Guwahati for verification.