A Barrackpore court delivered a significant verdict on Wednesday, sentencing three individuals to life imprisonment for the meticulously planned murder of Trinamool Congress councillor Anupam Dutta. The court observed that the accused deserved the death penalty for their role in the cold-blooded killing, which was orchestrated to serve their own interests.
The Fatal Attack and Investigation
The judgment pertains to the shocking murder of Anupam Dutta, the Trinamool Congress councillor of Panihati's ward 8. He was brutally gunned down on March 13, 2022, near his residence on Agarpara North Station Road, sending shockwaves through the local community.
An extensive police investigation unraveled a conspiracy rooted in a dispute over a local playground. The probe revealed that the prime conspirator, Sanjib Pandit, alias Bapi, wanted to take over the playground to promote his business interests. Councillor Anupam Dutta had been protesting this move and actively sought to protect the public ground from encroachment, which ultimately made him a target.
The Contract Killing Plot
According to details shared by an investigating officer, the plot unfolded in a calculated manner. Sanjib Pandit (Bapi) first hired Ziarul Mondal, a resident of Haringhata, to carry out the murder. Mondal accepted a sum of Rs 4 lakh for the contract. However, he kept making excuses and failed to execute the plan despite taking the payment.
Frustrated by the delay, Bapi then handed the contract to his cousin, Amit Pandit, alias Sambhu. This shift in execution led to the eventual assassination of the councillor, a crime the court described as both cold-blooded and meticulously planned.
Court's Stern Verdict and Observations
While pronouncing the sentence, the Barrackpore court made strong observations about the nature of the crime. The judge noted that the accused had plotted the murder in a cold-blooded manner, purely to further their own selfish interests, and such actions warranted the death penalty. The final sentencing of life imprisonment for the three convicts marks a crucial conclusion to a case that highlighted the perils faced by public representatives standing against illegal activities.
The verdict is seen as a strong message against the use of violence to settle disputes or eliminate opposition, especially when it involves the protection of public property. The life term awarded to the convicts brings a measure of justice for the slain councillor's family and the residents of Panihati.
