The seven advocates, who were convicted in the assault of a member of a Foreigners’ Tribunal (FT) in Goalpara on Thursday by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Goalpara, received respite from the court of the District and Sessions Judge, Goalpara on Tuesday.
P Buragohain, District and Sessions Judge, Goalpara, on Tuesday suspended through his order the convictions and sentences passed by the CJM, Goalpara. The sentences were suspended till the disposal of the appeal. The seven advocates will also enjoy bail till the disposal of the case.
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Also read: Assam: 7 advocates convicted in FT judge assault case, bailed out
The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Goalpara on Thursday gave verdict on the sensational Foreigners Tribunal (FT) member Justice Ajay Kumar Phukan assault case of 2017 and convicted seven out of eight advocates for two years of imprisonment along with fine. These advocates are Najrul Islam, Omar Faruk Choudhury, Shahjahan Ali, Mir Abdul Baten, Abdul Hamid, Moinul Hoque and Anower Hussain. However, the court had acquitted advocate Anisur Hoque.
The court of Ipsita Birthakur in her 98-page judgement convicted these advocates under Sections 147/448/323 and 333 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and also under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984.
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The incident took place on February 15, 2017 when a group of advocates went to meet the Foreigners’ Tribunal No 4 member Phukan to discuss regarding tagging of ‘D’ (Doubtful) voter to seven persons from the Boguan area of West Goalpara. The advocates alleged that the declared ‘D’ voters had valid documents and the judgement was not based on papers produced before the court.
Subsequently, the advocates allegedly physically assaulted the FT member which created statewide row. Following the incident, Judge Phukan filed an assault case at the Goalpara Police Station. The police filed chargesheet after a haste inquiry on March 24 against eight advocates out of whom seven were convicted.