Tripura: Newspaper owner convicted of murdering 3 employees

, July 15: A newspaper owner in

in India's northeast has been convicted of murdering three of his employees - his driver, a proof-reader and manager last year.

Sushil Chowdhury, 76, the owner and editor of regional daily Dainik Gandoot, was found guilty on Monday by an Agartala court which will pronounce the sentence on Thursday. He faces death penalty or life imprisonment.

According to the police, what led to the murder was Chowdhury's alleged involvement in illegal land deals. Allegedly, his manager, Ranjit Chowdhury, 61, threatened to expose him. Ranjit was killed by Chowdhury with the help of his driver Balaram Ghosh.

According to the police, Balram killed proof reader Sujit Bhattacharjee, 25 - who had allegedly witnessed the manager's murder. Sujit stabbed Balram and killed him before he succumbed to his injuries.

All three bodies were found in Chowdhury's offic. Chowdhury tried to mislead police by cooking up a story that the victims were killed by 'unknown assailants' whose real target was the editor of the newspaper.

Chowdhury even announced a reward of Rs. 10 lakh for any information on the "killers".

However, police nabbed him with the help of driver's wife Niyati Ghosh who was a witness in the case.

Oneindia News