Agartala: The High Court of Tripura taking a suo-moto cognizance of the suicide of a 23 years old housewife two days ago after an obscene video of her extra-marital relations was displayed on a big screen during an arbitration meeting at Birendra Chowmuhani Bazaar of Betaga ADC village of South Tripura.
Based on media report, a division bench comprising Chief Justice A A Kureshi and Justice S Talapatra has instituted the suo-moto proceedings into the incident and issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, the Superintendent of Police, South Tripura District and SDPO, Sabroom seeking full report of the incident.
The court termed the incident as “grossest possible violation of human rights” and directed the respondents to file their replies by today. The court stated that they did not accept the news story and would not accept it without full verification. However, even if a fraction of what is reported is true, it would shock the conscience of any citizen.
The Court has instructed authorities to submit the video footage mentioned in the news articles with the Court along with statements from the family members of the deceased and also, pointed out, “If any photographs or video footage are available of the alleged incident, the same shall be produced before the Court”.
The family members of the deceased woman shall be provided full protection and statements of such family members, if not already recorded, shall be recorded without any further delay. The Court also sought to know the progress of inquiry in the matter and said the respondents shall produce before the Court the status of inquiry so far carried out in relation to the said alleged incident including the unnatural death of the lady”, the order reads.
The victim’s family alleged that after watching the video, local people assembled in front of her house yesterday and garlanded her with shoes, hairs were trimmed and made her completely naked, and then dragged her after tying with rope all across the village road.
After hour-long public torture, she consumed poison returning home and died on the spot. However, police have not yet arrested anybody in connection with the incident although the family lodge complaint against some of her neighbours for compelled her to commit suicide.
They alleged that she had a relationship with one Basanta Tripura who shot the video of their intimate positions without informing her. Later when he had developed a misunderstanding with the lady, Basanta shared it with local BJP leaders Kamal Tripura and Sajal Tripura who allegedly displayed it before the villagers in the meeting.
However, SP (South Tripura) Dr Kulwant Singh said, “After a preliminary enquiry into the incident, police has registered a suo-moto case against the miscreants for indulging her suicide and investigation has been going on.”
