A district and sessions judge’s court in Rangamati has sentenced two men, including the victim’s own son, to death for the gruesome murder of Shanti Lal Chakma in Sajek, Rangamati.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday afternoon by Rangamati District and Sessions Judge Md Ahsan Tarek following a lengthy trial. The convicts are the victim’s son, Sohel Chakma, and his nephew, Alomoy Chakma. State prosecutors successfully proved the allegations against both accused beyond reasonable doubt through witness testimony and relevant documentation.
According to court records and the case summary, the brutal incident occurred on the night of 6 August 2017 in the Uttar Bhaibonchhara area under Sajek Police Station. The accused called Shanti Lal Chakma out of his home late at night. They subsequently strangled him with a traditional cotton scarf (gamcha) before hacking him to death with a sharp weapon (da). To conceal the crime, the perpetrators disposed of his body in the Gangaram River. Police eventually recovered the severely decomposed remains from the Kachalong River nine days later.
In a scathing observation, the judge highlighted the horrific nature of the crime, describing such animalistic and brutal killings as rare in society and a grave threat to human civilisation.
Of the two convicts, Alomoy Chakma remains at large after securing bail from the court during the trial proceedings. The court specified that his death sentence will be executed following his arrest or surrender. Meanwhile, Sohel Chakma, who was present in custody, was remanded back to Rangamati District Gaol with a sentence warrant.
defence counsel Advocate Md Rashed Iqbal contested the ruling, claiming that the victim’s son was wrongfully implicated. He asserted that the primary accused, Alomoy Chakma, absconded after securing bail, whereas Sohel Chakma had no direct involvement in his father’s murder and was framed due to an internal family dispute. The defence team confirmed plans to challenge the verdict in the High Court Division upon further consultation with the family.
