Photo Courtesy: tripuratimes
Agartala: The Tripura High Court cut short the prison terms for four Bangladeshi nationals convicted of illegal entry. Justice Dr. T. Amarnath Goud issued the order on Monday. The state government confirmed it has no objection to the move. The four individuals will head back to Bangladesh.
Ratilal Das and Binita Rani Das faced charges after a BSF patrol grabbed them near Srirampur Manu Bridge on February 27, 2025. Authorities held 16 people total, including three suspected local touts. The Sessions Judge in Unakoti sentenced the couple to two years of rigorous imprisonment last November. They pleaded guilty to entering the country without valid documents.
Two other women, Lija and Mansura Aktar, faced similar legal battles. They landed in custody on October 6, 2024, after being detained at the Ambassa railway station. The Dhalai Sessions Court handed them five-year and two-year sentences respectively. They also pleaded guilty.
Public Prosecutor Raju Datta previously pushed back against reduced sentences. He cited the illegal nature of their entry into India. However, the Tripura Home Department shifted its stance in a September 17 memo. The court ruled that a lenient approach was appropriate since these were primary offenses. Justice Goud stated, "The court noted that there were no antecedents against the appellants and, considering the state's position on their deportation, held that a lenient view could be taken as the offences were their primary offences."
The court wiped out the remaining prison time. The detainees will stay in custody until the state completes the repatriation process. They will no longer hold the status of convicts during this wait. Officials must now finalize the return to Bangladesh.
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