Three top leaders of opposition CPI (M) from South Tripura district including district Secretary Tapas Datta, Trilokesh Sinha and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS)  Belonia Divisional Secretary Babul Debnath surrendered before the Belonia Court on Saturday following the Supreme Court’s directive.

As per the case registered against them in September 2nd,  2015 over allegations of physical assault to a Judge Ruhi Das Pal of the Belonia Court during  picketing in support of Bandh called by Left Front.

 The next Supreme Court hearing in the matter is scheduled for March 18.

Speaking with media persons, government lawyer Kishore Majumdar  said that  the three Left leaders, who were accused of physically assaulting Judge Ruhidas Pal inside the Belonia Court premises have now surrendered as per the Supreme Court’s directive given them on February 18, 2025 last. This marks an important step in the legal proceedings.

The incident dates back to September 2, 2015, when the Left trade unions had called for a Bandh. Allegedly, in the name of picketing, the three CPI(M) leaders, along with others, stormed into the Belonia Court and allegedly physically assaulted the judge. At that time, then Belonia Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sudip Pal took suo motu cognizance of the attack and registered a case under Belonia Police Station (Case No. 113/15).

Following their initial arrest, the accused had obtained bail after filing a writ petition in the Supreme Court. However, as per the apex court’s latest ruling, Tapash Datta, Trilokesh Sinha, and Babul Debnath were ordered to surrender before the court.

Legal proceedings in the case have been ongoing for years. In May 2023, the District and Session Court of South Tripura upheld the conviction of the three leaders, sentencing them to two years of rigorous imprisonment. They were found guilty of unlawful assembly, creating unrest inside the court premises, and obstructing a judicial officer in the discharge of duties.

The police invoked multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the case, including IPC Section 447 for criminal trespass, Sections 353 and 332 for preventing a public servant from discharging duty, and Section 34 for common intention. After a prolonged hearing, the court found the trio guilty on all counts and sentenced them to imprisonment. The verdict was delivered by District and Sessions Judge Ashutosh Pandey.

The case has been a politically sensitive issue in Tripura as the accused are senior CPIM leaders. With the next Supreme Court hearing set for March 18, legal experts believe this could be a decisive moment in the case.