Newz Desk, Durgapur: After spending 34 years behind bars, a man convicted in a decades-old case has finally been acquitted by the Calcutta High Court. The court overturned the earlier ruling of the lower court, bringing an end to a legal battle that began in 1991.
The case dates back to January 7, 1984, when an incident of stone-throwing at the Changtong Tea Garden in North Bengal led to the deaths of two people and injuries to four others. Based on complaints filed by Maniprasad Rai and Bhai Bahadur Rai, several individuals — including Harka Bahadur Chettri — were named as accused.
However, during the High Court proceedings, it emerged that no witness had been able to identify Chettri as the assailant. Even the two original complainants failed to recognise him in court. Citing the complete lack of evidence linking him to the crime, Justice Prosenjit Biswas ordered his acquittal, declaring him not guilty.
The case is among more than 1,500 criminal matters that have stretched for over three decades in the Calcutta High Court. As of now, the court continues to grapple with nearly 9,356 criminal cases that are more than 10 years old, including one dating back to 1969, which is still under hearing.
Chettri’s acquittal highlights the pressing need to address pendency and delays in the criminal justice system, especially in cases where lives are irrevocably altered by prolonged incarceration.
