Agartala: A 52-year-old sanitation worker has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment by Tripura’s Unakoti district court for molesting minor girls at the Kumarghat COVID Care Centre in 2020. The verdict followed a prolonged trial, bringing closure to a distressing case that emerged during the height of the pandemic.
The accused, identified as Jhantu Deb, posted at the centre, inappropriately touched and groped minor female patients, misleading them into believing his actions were part of their medical treatment. The girls, upon realizing they were being deceived, reported the incidents to the centre’s in-charge doctor.
The first incident occurred on September 2, 2020, and two days later, two minor girls lodged a formal written complaint against Jhantu Deb at the Kumarghat Police Station. Responding swiftly, the police registered a case and arrested the accused. Investigating Officer Gobinda Lal Sinha conducted a thorough probe and submitted the charge sheet before the court on November 30, 2020.
During the subsequent trial, testimonies of 16 witnesses were examined against Jhantu Deb. Unakoti District Court’s Special Judge, Amarendra Kumar Singh, found Jhantu Deb guilty of the charges. In addition to the three-year jail term, the court imposed a fine of Rs 3,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three months of imprisonment.
Public Prosecutor Sunirmal Deb represented the government throughout the proceedings, ensuring that justice was served in this distressing case. The court’s verdict serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable populations, particularly during times of crisis.
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