Tripura CM’s statement to reopen political murder cases creates row

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha. File | Photo Credit: PTI

Amid criticism from the Congress on the merits of reopening the closed political murder cases in Tripura, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Monday reiterated his position on the issue. He said the re-opening of murder cases is possible as there have been many incidents in the past.

After presiding over a law and order review meeting at the police headquarters here, Dr. Saha said, “This is not an impossible task. Re-opening of closed murder cases is very possible and has happened.”

Responding to the Chief Minister’s statement, Congress leader and former Minister Sudip Roy Barman questioned the reopening of murder cases that were closed or did not make progress during the previous governments led by the CPI(M) and the Congress in the State. The Chief Minister had said that he wanted to ensure justice and redress for the victims and their families.

Dismissing this idea, Mr. Barman argued, “How can the murder cases be reopened after the accused has already been acquitted through a proper trial? It’s a stupid idea.”

Supreme Court advocate Subrata Sarkar said re-opening of such cases is possible on appeal, but the complainant must provide a valid reason for the delay for the appeal to be accepted.

Over the past few years, the BJP-led coalition government has set up a committee to probe “hundreds” of politically-linked murder cases sealed under previous governments. However, the committee failed to make progress.