123 Howrah: The Howrah court has sentenced a man to 10-year rigorous imprisonment for fatally assaulting a neighbour who was feeding stray dogs. The verdict came after an extended trial, spanning nearly 11 years.
The Second Additional District Judge of Howrah, Shambhu Bag, pronounced the judgment against the accused, Shambhu Bag, on Friday.
The incident took place back in 2014 in Baksara in the Botanical Garden police station area.
Baneshwar Shaw (54), a resident of Thakurpukur in Baksara, regularly fed stray dogs in his neighbourhood. Bag, who lived nearby, consistently opposed this practice. On June 25, 2014, while Shaw was feeding the dogs near his home, Bag allegedly emerged from his house and started to hurl abuses at Shaw. When Shaw objected, Bag attacked him with a wooden object, striking him on his head with it.
Shaw was taken to Howrah District Hospital in a critical state. He subsequently died of his injuries.
Bag was arrested by the cops from the Botanical Garden police station.
The case proceedings continued in the Howrah court for 11 years. The court's verdict was based on statements from 15 witnesses. Public prosecutor Brajendranath Shasmal, "The court has sentenced the convict to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000. The convict will have to serve an additional six months of imprisonment if the fine is not paid. This is the first time a court in the state has delivered such a verdict in a case of this nature. It is undoubtedly a significant victory for animal lovers."