Assam: Hailakandi court sentences man to life imprisonment for double murder

In a landmark ruling, the Additional District and Sessions Judge, M.H. Barbhuiya, sentenced Kuchira Tripura to life imprisonment on Monday for the heinous murder of two children—a crime that shook the community to its core.

The verdict was delivered just six months after charges were formally framed, a rapid conclusion that followed the horrifying events of September 2, 2023. The tragic incident left a profound impact on the Hailakandi district, as the gruesome details of the case came to light.

Public prosecutor Shantanu Sharma highlighted the efficiency of the legal process, crediting the swift resolution to the timely submission of the charge sheet by the police. The case, registered under Katlicherra Police Station (Case No. 192/23), was initiated by Buranjoy Tripura, the grieving father of the two young victims.

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The children, Dhananjay Tripura, aged 7, and Sarnajoy Tripura, aged 12, were discovered with severe head injuries in an abandoned pond in Katanala village, a Mizoram suburb within the district. The investigation revealed that the accused, Kuchira Tripura, had attacked the children with a weapon while they were gathering bamboo sticks near his residence. He later disposed of their bodies in the pond under the cover of darkness.

Crucial to the case was the testimony of Santosh Tripura, the 15-year-old son of the accused, whose eyewitness account played a pivotal role in the swift administration of justice.

In addition to the life sentence, Judge Barbhuiya imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convicted, with an additional three-month imprisonment should the fine remain unpaid. The court also directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to compensate the bereaved family with Rs 5 lakh, acknowledging the immense loss they have suffered.