Kolkata, Jan 4: With the process being completed for recording of statements by witnesses in the case related to the rape and murder of a woman junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, the final arguments and counter-arguments in the matter are slated to start at a special court in Kolkata from Saturday.

Sources said in this part the arguments and counter-arguments will mainly be between the counsels of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the “sole prime accused” in the crime of rape and murder Sanjay Roy, an erstwhile civic volunteer attached to Kolkata Police.

However, there will be no media access to this session as well since it has been decided from the beginning that the entire trial process in the matter will be in-camera and barring those associated with the case and their counsels, no one else will be allowed to be present within the courtroom.

Sources said that the CBI has already submitted its investigation report in the matter to the special court.

Legal circles feel one of the most dominant factors in the process of argument and counter-arguments will be the latest report of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) which has raised serious questions on the “scene of crime” in the matter.

The body of the victim doctor was recovered from the seminar hall within R.G. Kar premises on the morning of August 9 last year.

Accordingly, first the Kolkata Police and thereafter the CBI carried out the investigation considering the seminar hall as the “scene of crime”.

However, the recently-surfaced CSFL report, a copy of which is available with IANS, has clearly stated there is no scientific evidence of a scuffle within the seminar room.

The CSFL report strengthened the apprehension raised by a section of the medical fraternity in the state that the actual “scene of crime” was someplace else and the body was shifted to the seminar hall to mislead future investigations.

The CSFL also clearly stated that the confidentiality factor of the post-mortem process was totally compromised and standard protocols were not followed.

At the same time while not ruling out the possibility of the involvement of just one accused in the crime, the CSFL report advocated for further research based on different past scientific reports by experts in similar cases which can lead to the final conclusion on whether more than one person was involved in the crime.

Kangpokpi: Fresh violence erupted in Manipur’s Kangpokpi town on Friday, leaving a police official injured and a Deputy Commissioner’s office attacked, further escalating tensions in the region. A group of individuals marched towards the administrative headquarters in Kangpokpi and launched an assault, police confirmed. The incident occurred in the Kuki and tribal-dominated hilly district, where the atmosphere remains extremely tense.

Recent Protest By Kuki Women In Saibol

This development follows recent unrest in the district’s Saibol area, where Kuki women protested against the deployment of joint security forces, including the Border Security Force (BSF), Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The protest, which took place three days earlier, came in response to a security operation on December 29.

During this operation, security personnel cleared the region of armed militants and dismantled bunkers, intensifying tensions among the local populace. Large groups of women from nearby villages gathered to obstruct the forces’ operations, reflecting growing discontent.

CM Biren Singh Apologises To People Of Manipur

The latest violence comes shortly after Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh issued a public apology for the ethnic conflict that has plagued the state since May 2023. In a heartfelt video address, Singh expressed regret for the turmoil, which has claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands. “This entire year has been very unfortunate,” Singh stated. “I feel regret and want to say sorry to the people of the state. Many people lost their loved ones and their homes. I hope that with the New Year 2025, normalcy and peace will be restored.”

Singh also appealed to all communities to ‘forgive and forget’ past grievances, emphasizing the need for unity and reconciliation. Addressing a press conference in Imphal, he stressed the state government’s commitment to restoring peace and highlighted recent progress toward stability.

Manipur has been embroiled in sporadic violence since May 3, 2023, driven by ethnic clashes between the majority Meitei community and the Kuki tribes over reservations and economic benefits. Despite efforts to quell the unrest, incidents like the one in Kangpokpi highlight the lingering challenges in achieving lasting peace in the state.

Kochi, Jan 3: A CBI court here on Friday sentenced 10 CPI-M workers to a double life term and four others including a former party legislator to five years’ imprisonment in the Periya twin murder case.

On Saturday last, the CBI court had convicted 14 people and exonerated 10 in the case pertaining to the brutal murders of Kerala Youth Congress workers Kripesh (19) and P.K. Sarath Lal (24) on February 17, 2019, in Periya, Kasaragod district.

However, the families of the victims said they were expecting capital punishment for the accused and since that has not been given and 10 others were exonerated, they will speak with the Congress leadership and appeal against the verdict.

The victims were allegedly killed by CPI-M workers in a politically-motivated attack.

According to the court, eight of the accused were directly involved in the twin murders, while six others played indirect roles.

The court gave a double life term to the eight who were directly involved in the cold blooded murder, while two others, who were part of the conspiracy, were also given a double life term.

Among the convicted is former MLA and CPI-M district leader K.V. Kunhiraman, accused of forcibly removing the second accused from police custody. Kunhiraman has been given five years’ imprisonment.

Initially investigated by the Crime Branch, the case was handed over to the CBI after a plea was filed by the victims’ families in the High Court.

The CBI concluded that the murders stemmed from a cycle of politically-motivated attacks between CPI-M and Congress workers in the region.

At Periya in Kasargod there was a huge gathering of Congress party workers and family members of the two victims at their memorial site. After hearing the verdict, some of the women of the two workers’ families were seen in tears.

Leader of Opposition, V.D. Satheesan while talking about the verdict said it was notable that among the accused are a former CPI-M legislator and workers.

“All along, the CPI-M leadership and party denied their leader’s and party workers’ role in the brutal crime. Now see, they have been sentenced. This is the way the CPI-M works,” said Satheesan.

K.K. Rema, an independent legislator who won with the Congress-led UDF’s support, whose husband, T.P. Chandrasekharan, was also murdered by CPI-M workers, criticised the party’s attempts to protect the accused.

“Just look at the way the CPI-M employed high priced lawyers from Delhi to fight the case and more than Rs 1 crore have been spent to save the guilty,” said Rema.

AICC general secretary and Alappuzha Congress Lok Sabha member, K.C. Venugopal, said the verdict brings out the real face of the CPI-M as they engage in annihilating political opponents.

The counsel for the accused said once the papers of the verdict come, they will file an appeal against it.

The 10 accused, who have been sentenced to the double life term, will each have to pay a fine of Rs 2 lakh, while the remaining four have to pay a fine of Rs 10,000, and all of this will go to the families of the two victims.