Man gets life term for killing brother in Kalimpong : case solved in 22 months

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 20 December 2022: An accused in the murder is sentenced to suffer rigorous life imprisonment with a total fine of Rupees 25 thousand by the District and Sessions Judge Court at Kalimpong today. The case was registered and investigation initiated by SI Dinesh Kumar Pradhan of Kalimpong Police station.  

Kalimpong police stated that due to the relentless effort and perseverance of the Investigating Officer and Kalimpong Police station's team, investigation was completed on time and within 20 months. The District and Sessions Judge Court, disposed it by sentencing the accused Ritesh Panchakoty to suffer rigorous life imprisonment with a fine of Rupees 25 thousand or one year of imprisonment for murdering his younger brother.

Yasmin Fatma, the learned Session Judge on 20th December ordered that Ritesh Panchakoty is found guilty of offence punishable under section 302 I.P.C. and is convicted u/s 235(2) of Cr.P.C. of the said charge. The period of detention already undergone by the convict, Ritesh, a resident of Gumbahatta 10th Mile, Kalimpong will be set off against the sentence of imprisonment u/s 428 Cr.P.C

As per the record Ritesh murdered his younger brother Rohit Panchakoty in the night of 7 February 2021 at around 10:30 P.M. On the fateful night both Ritesh and Rohit had a brawl and on hearing this the two cousin cousin Rizzu Panchakoty and Reshap Panchakoty staying in the same building top and ground floors respectively came to pacify them and returned after some time.. But it started again and Ritesh assaulted his younger brother Rohit with a weapon. 

On hearing the noises of brawl they with uncle Kailash Panchakoty rushed to the spot and found Rohit lying in a pool of blood and with multiple head injury. They called the police and the police arrived and helped to bring the injured Rohit to the District hospital where the doctor declared him brought dead. . 

Rohit's uncle Kailash Panchakoty lodged a complaint before Inspector-in-charge of Kalimpong Police on the early morning of the next day that on the previous night he heard a big hue and cry came out from his portion of the house and he found that his nephew Rohit was lying down at the door step of his house in a pool of blood. They took him to the hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead. On the basis of this Case no. 32/21 dated 08.02.2021 was recorded.

The Panchakoty brothers stay together in the same building as an extended family. The accused and the deceased were the sons of late Jiwan Panchakoty who was missing since 1996. They resided at the middle floor with their ailing and bed ridden mother. Their uncle Kailash with his family reside at the top floor of the same building, while the youngest uncle Arjun lives in the ground floor. 

Of the three Panchakoty Late Jiwan Panchakoti (father of accused and deceased) was the eldest, Kailash Panchakoti is the second and Arjun Panchkoti is the youngest who reside along with their family members in the same building. 

Sub-inspector of Police, Dinesh Kumar Pradhan was assigned the job of investigating officer. Accordingly he took up the investigation of the case and arrested the accused Ritesh Panchakoty on the same day and forwarded him to the court.

The court examined all the evidences, reports and heard fourteen prosecution witnesses.

It was recorded that after the incident uncle Kailash saw Ritesh with an iron hammer in his hands. He then intimated the police over phone regarding the incident. Police arrived approximately around 11pm. It was not confirmed at that time that whether Rohit already died or was alive that is why police carried him to the hospital where the Doctor declared him brought dead. Accordingly Ritesh was arrested and produced him to the court.