The court of district and sessions judge today awarded life imprisonment to 13 accused in the sensational murder of Rupak Gogoi, the then proprietor of Govindapur Tea Estate in Golaghat and husband of MLA Bismita Gogoi. The day February 11, 2005 when Rupak Gogoi accompanied by his PSO went to his tea garden Govindapur. Three weeks were payment was due to the labourers but when Rupak Gogoi arrived at the garden with payment of just one week, the labourers turned furious.
There was an altercation between Late Gogoi and the labourers and in the meantime a woman labourer has snatched the Carbine from Gogoi’s PSO. It was followed by chaos and disorder and the furious mob later burnt alive Rupak Gogoi. After the ghastly incidence 250 labourers surrendered themselves at Numaligarh Police Outpost. Police also arrested 8 labourers later and the total number of accused went up to 258 and police after investigation had filed charge sheet against 79 accused. During the trial 9 of the accused had died leaving the number of accused to 70.
When the District Judge T Lohar after hearing the case for several years, pronounced the judgement at around 1.00 pm today there was a pin drop silence inside the court room. Great anxiety was noticed on the face of all the accused and when the 57 of the accused were acquitted, they heaved a great sigh of relief but tension was still there in the faces of the remaining 13 accused consisting of 4 women and 9 men. The remaining accused were found guilty of their offence under sections 148/302/323/392 of Indian Penal Code and given life term imprisonment. While the state was represented by Public Prosecutor Nilo Padma Acharjee, the defence lawyer was Durga Prasad Jaiswal.
While being asked about her opinion regarding the judgement wife of Late Rupak Gogoi and MLA of Khumtai constituency Bismita Gogoi expressed her satisfaction at the judgement.
It is to be noted that, this is the first time in the history of Golaghat judiciary a total of 13 accused were given life imprisonment at the same time.
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