Digboi: man stabbed over Rs 500 dispute dies; murder case filed

Police in Assam's Tinsukia district have registered a murder case after a 48-year-old man stabbed during a dispute on Maha Navami died in hospital, and community groups in the Pawai-Ketetong area near Digboi have appealed for calm.

The man, Pritam Thapa of Pensioner Basti, Pawai Bangaon, died at a private hospital in Dibrugarh on 29 October, Northeast Now and India Today NE reported.

What happened

According to the reports, the attack took place on 20 October at No. 2 Ngkung Pathar near Pawai Forest Village, under Digboi police station. Thapa is said to have confronted a man from the Margherita police station area over Rs 500 that he said was owed to him. The argument reportedly grew out of a card game at a gambling spot during Durga Puja.

Locals told Northeast Now that the man pulled out a knife during the argument. A youth who tried to step in suffered a serious cut to his hand, and Thapa was stabbed in the abdomen.

Thapa was first taken to Margherita Civil Hospital, then referred to Tata Hospital at Chabua, and later moved to a private hospital in Dibrugarh, where he died after nine days of treatment.

Police case

Digboi police station inspector Pranjal Chetia confirmed that a murder case has been registered against the accused, a man from the Margherita area, and said prosecution would proceed under the relevant provisions of law. The accused was also injured and is being treated at a private hospital in Dibrugarh, the inspector said. A first information report was lodged by the victim's family along with leaders of the All Assam Magar Students' Union.

Appeals for calm

The death caused tension in the Pawai-Ketetong area. The Pawai-Ketetong regional committee of the All Assam Gorkha Students' Union held a peace meeting on Saturday and urged people on both sides to show restraint and preserve communal harmony. It asked the district administration and police for a neutral investigation and strict action against those found responsible.

Thapa leaves behind three children. Community leaders said a meeting at his home on Thursday decided to invite the accused's family to discuss support for the children. They also blamed widespread gambling, alcohol and drug use in the locality for the incident and asked police to act against them.