In a landmark judgment, the Additional District & Sessions Judge of Khowai District, Tripura, has sentenced Ratan Debbarma to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife in 1996.

According to the Tripura Police, the conviction stems from case ST(T I) 33/2019, linked to Khowai Police Station Case No. 82/1996, registered on September 26, 1996. The victim, 25-year-old Chabi Rani Debbarma, was allegedly killed by her husband at the dwelling of her elder sister in Mudibari, Khowai, in the early hours of September 25, 1996, when he reportedly attacked her with an axe.

The case had remained unresolved for nearly three decades before the court delivered the verdict.

Tripura Police credited the successful conviction to the efforts of then Sub Inspector Pranab Das of Khowai Police Station—now serving as Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) at the Office of Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Agartala. The investigation team carefully utilized scientific, medical, and corroborative evidence to build a strong prosecution case that ultimately secured the life sentence for the accused.

In its statement, the police emphasized that this conviction demonstrates the force’s unwavering commitment to justice, highlighting the importance of diligent investigation and the effective use of forensic and evidentiary tools, even in long-pending cases.