Second Death Sentence in a Week by West Bengal Judge for Two Murder Cases

A fast-track court judge in West Bengal's Murshidabad district has handed down a second death sentence in a week. Judge Santosh Kumar Pathak, known for expeditious trials, sentenced a 24-year-old man to death for the murder of his 18-year-old former girlfriend in May 2022. The same judge had previously sentenced a 22-year-old man to death for the 2019 murder of a family, including a primary school teacher, his wife, and their son. Public prosecutor Bibhas Chatterjee provided the information.

Sushanta Chowdhury was found guilty of stabbing his former girlfriend Sutapa Chowdhury 42 times outside a girl's hostel in Berhampore. CCTV footage and testimony from 32 witnesses played a crucial role in the trial. When confronted by local youths, Sushanta used a toy pistol to deter them. Chatterjee emphasized that the reason for the murder was Sutapa ending the relationship, which was not a justification for the brutal crime.

In the 2019 murder case, Utpal Behera, a 22-year-old mason, was found guilty under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 201 (tampering with evidence). The murders of Bandhu Prakash Pal, his pregnant wife Beauty Pal, and their son sent shockwaves through the region. Behera's arrest followed witness statements and an investigation into an insurance policy dispute between Behera and Pal.

Behera had purchased an insurance policy through Pal, with the latter allegedly failing to deposit the premium, leading to policy cancellation. This grievance led to Behera's murderous plan, resulting in the death of the woman and her son as they were witnesses. Sushanta Chowdhury, who received the recent death sentence, broke down in court, and his lawyer Pijush Ghosh plans to challenge the verdict in the Calcutta High Court.

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