By TC News Desk
Agartala, 21st October 2024: The chieftain of Reang Community of Tripura has written to the National Human Rights Commission as well as the Director General of Police of Tripura appealing for action and justice in a serious case of alleged gang rape of a teenage Reang tribal woman by two officials serving in the Government of Tripura.
The accused have been identified as Dr. Dayasish Chakma S/o Ranjan Bikash Chakma of Agartala and Shri Rajendra Debbarma S/o Lt Lakhi Debbarma of Khowai. While Rajendra Debbarma, serving as driver of Fire Department has been arrested immediately, Dr Dayasish Chakma, posted as District TB officer in Health Department of Tripura has not been arrested as yet although it has been one month since registration of FIR on 19 September 2024.
Dr. Dayasish Chakma, a medical doctor, is the younger brother of noted human rights activist Mr Suhas Chakma, the letter stated.
In his complaint addressed to the Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, the Reang chieftain of Tripura (who is recognized as Samaj Adhipati of Reang community by State government) has raised the issue of inaction by the Tripura Police in the gang rape case. Notably, the police initially refused to register the case. Later, VGM PS Case No. 2024 VGM 005, dated: 19.09.224 U/S- 120(B)/493/417/376(g)/506/34 of IPC was registered at Vanghmun Police Station, North Tripura only under a direction of the Court in Case No. CR-07 of 2024.
While praying for the intervention of the NHRC, the Reang chieftain highlighted the difference of status between the accused persons and the victim: the victim belongs to poor family who is surviving “hand to mouth” while the alleged rapists “are well educated and holder in higher post of state government.” The tribal chieftain lamented that the police have failed to arrest the prime accused Dr Dayasish Chakma who “remain absconding and the police did not intervent (sic) and taken necessary action in regards to arrest/punished to the actual rapist.”
Dr. Dayasish Chakma is currently posted as District TB Officer in Dhalai District, Ambassa under Department of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of Tripura.
The Reang community warned that they will hit the street if justice is denied to the gang rape victim as early as possible.
In her petition filed in the Court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Kanchanpur, North Tripura [Case No. CR-07 of 2024], the victim who belongs to Reang tribal community have leveled serious allegation of gang rape multiple times at different locations by two accused persons Rajendra Debbarma and Dr Dayasish Chakma over a period of several months.
While Rajendra Debbarma works as driver in the Fire Department, Government of Tripura, Dr Dayasish Chakma is District TB Officer, posted at Ambassa, Dhalai District. Later, on 21st April 2024, the victim was again allegedly gang raped by the same accused persons in a garden near Sabual. The accused persons also allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy to kill the victim.
The victim approached the Vangmun police station but the officer in charge refused to register an FIR. Thereafter, she sent her petition to the Superintendent of Police, North Tripura but no case was registered. So, the victim approached the magistrate court at Kanchapur.
On 27 August 2024, the Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Kanchanpur after hearing the matter in Case No. CR-07 of 2024 directed the Officer-in-Charge of Vanghmun Police Station for registering FIR and ensure the investigation in view of Section 156(3) of CrPC and to submit report on the next date of hearing.
In the next date of hearing on 19 September 2024, the Officer in Charge of Vanghmun PS submitted report stating that a specific case has been registered at Vanghmun PS vide VGM PS Case No. 2024 VGM 005, dated: 19.09.224 U/S- 120(B)/493/417/376(g)/506/34 of IPC.
The Tripura Police immediately arrested Rajendra Debbarma but did not arrest Dr Dayasish Chakma as yet for reasons best known to them.
