Upholding the judgement by a lower court, the district and session court of South Tripura district on Wednesday pronounced two years of imprisonment to three top leaders of opposition CPI(M) for attack in the court complex and harassing a judge during picketing of Bharat Bandh in 2015.

A specific case against CPI(M) secretary of Belonia subdivisional committee Tapash Datta, AIKS leader Babul Debnath and another senior leader Trilokesh Sinha over allegation of picketing in court complex, threatening of court employees to remove the complex and harassment to the then district and session judge, when they along with other supporters of CPI(M) conducted picking in support of Left parties called ‘Bharat Bandh’ on September 2nd, 2015.

After the incident, the local police had registered a suo-moto FIR against these three CPI(M) leaders under sections 447,353,332 and 34 of IPC. The investigation officer (IO) Shankar Saha, later submitted the charge-sheet and during the long hearing, the court of the Judicial Magistrate first class of Belonia has also recorded witnesses of 22 persons. The Judicial Magistrate first class found guilty and pronounced imprisonment of two years under section 353 and 34 of IPC and two months jail term under 447 and 34 of IPC with fine of Rs. 500.

After the judgement of the lower court, all three accused persons appealed before the district and session court against the judgement of the lower court.

On Wednesday, the district and session judge of Belonia  Ashotosh Pandey gave the verdict of the 3 separate appeals and upheld the judgement of the lower court, said public prosecutor Akhtar Hussain Majumder.