The Gauhati High Court has upheld the death sentence awarded by a lower court to an insurgent involved in the killing of 15 people at Jarulbachai village in 1997.
A group of about 35 insurgents of the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) raided the Jarulbachai village in West Tripura district at about 11 PM on February 11, 1997, and set afire many huts of the village.
When the villagers came out of their blazing huts, the ultras opened indiscriminate firing from automatic weapons killing 15 people and injuring four others.
Later, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed a charge sheet against 16 insurgents. However, 11 insurgents were still absconding.
Additional and Session Judge of West Tripura district released three of the rest five insurgents unconditionally as no evidence was found against them.
Meanwhile, the two accused ? Ashok Debbarma and Gandhi Debbarma - managed to flee from police custody before the verdict.
The police later arrested Ashok Debbarma, who was sentenced to death.
PTI
