FB MP gets 10 yrs rigorous imprisonment in rape case

Purulia, May 12 (UNI) A day after the spectacular victory of the Left Front in the assembly polls one of its MPs was sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment after being found guilly in a 1983 rape case.

Veteran politician and Forward Bloc's Lok Sabha member Bir Singh Mahto was handed out the sentence by a local court for committing rape and arson in 1983.

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

The judge also fined them Rs 10,000 each.

The case was initiated on November 20 that year, exactly sixty days after the crime in the drought prone tribal dominated village.

Mr Mahto, whose party is in the ruling coalition in the state, subsequently represented Purulia in the lower house of Parliament for two terms.

After the judgement, the MP was escorted to a local jail with armed security.

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

UNI XC PC PL VD RN1434