10 yrs jail for Forward Bloc MP in rape case

Purulia, May 12: Veteran politician and Forward Bloc's Lok Sabah member Bir Singh Mahto was today sentenced ten years rigorous imprisonment by a local court for a rape case in 1983.

Additional Sessions Judge of Purulia court Subash Chattoraj while delivering judgement on a rape and arson case on Renubala Bhagat of Bagmundi village on Septmber 20,1983 convicted the MP and four others in a packed court amids tight security.

The judge also fined them Rs 10,000 each for the crime.

The case initiated on November 20, exactly sixty days after the crime in a drought prone tribal dominated village of Bengal.

After the judgement, the Forward Bloc MP, representing Purulia in the lower house of parliament for two terms, was escorted to a local jail with armed security.

Advocate Gautam Banerjee, who appeared for the politician, told reporters that they would appeal to higher court against the verdict.

UNI