Landmark Motahir Ahmed Tapadar Case: Justice After 17 Years, SI Tamuli Sent to Rigorous Life Imprisonment

In a gripping courtroom drama that has spanned nearly two decades, a Fast Track Court in Silchar has delivered a landmark judgement. The case, dating back to 2007, has finally seen its conclusion with Narayan Tamuli, a former Sub-inspector of police, sentenced to life imprisonment for the custodial death of Motahir Ahmed Tapadar. This ruling, pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Justice Naraya Upadhyaya, is a significant moment for the Cachar District and its people, who have waited 17 long years for justice.

A Chilling Tale of Police Brutality

The story begins on a fateful day in September 2007. Motahir Ahmed, a resident of Bargram in the Kalain area, was taken into custody by Sub-inspector Narayan Tamuli, then in charge of the Kalain Patrol Post. What was supposed to be a routine police procedure turned into a nightmare for Motahir and his family. “I was just 7 years old. We begged sir (accused Tamuli) not to take our father and told him he was innocent. But he didn’t listen to us,” recounted Salman Uddin, Motahir’s son, his voice breaking as he recalled the traumatic events. The cries of a young boy, desperate to save his father, fell on deaf ears.

The arrest quickly escalated into a horrifying case of custodial torture. According to the family’s lawyer, Imad Uddin Bulbul, Motahir was detained over a minor altercation in the area. When he was unable to pay a bribe of 10,000 rupees, he was brutally tortured. The next day, he succumbed to the injuries inflicted upon him, his body a testament to the severe abuse he endured.

The death of Motahir Ahmed sparked outrage across Cachar. Enraged locals set fire to the police outpost, a powerful act of defiance that underscored the community’s anger and frustration with the police’s actions. The region was plunged into chaos as law and order disintegrated.

A Long Road to Justice

The quest for justice began immediately after the incident. On October 1, 2007, Motahir’s family filed an FIR against Sub-inspector Tamuli. However, it took five years before a charge sheet was filed in court in December 2012. What followed was a lengthy legal battle, characterized by numerous delays and adjournments, or “tarikh-pe-tarikh” as it is commonly referred to in the Indian legal system.

For 17 years, Motahir’s family, led by his wife Alimnun Nessa and their dedicated lawyer Imad Uddin Bulbul, fought tirelessly against a system that often seemed to work against them. “To keep running after a case for 17 years is very difficult,” said Bulbul, reflecting on the emotional and financial toll the prolonged fight for justice had taken on the family. “It is even more difficult when it is against the police. You need courage, and we showed this courage.”

The Court’s Verdict

On September 2, 2024, the Fast Track Court finally delivered a verdict that many in the community had been waiting for. Citing various landmark judgments from the Supreme Court and several high courts, the judge sentenced Narayan Tamuli to rigorous life imprisonment, along with a fine of ten thousand rupees. The judgement underscored the severity of the crime and the breach of trust committed by Tamuli, who, as a police officer, was supposed to protect the law, not break it.

“The nature of the offence is always an aggravating factor for sentencing,” the judge remarked. “The convict being a police person, ought to have taken care of the deceased who was in his custody but instead, he cruelly assaulted him and due to such assault, the deceased died. Convict was a SI of Police who was responsible to uphold the law, but he himself took the law in his own hands. Due to the act of the convict, society was deeply pained.”

A Community’s Relief

The verdict has brought a sense of relief and vindication to the community, which had long felt betrayed by those meant to protect them. Salman Uddin, now an adult, broke down in tears as he spoke about the ruling. “Without any crime, the police took him to the thana and beat him. We cried and begged not to take him as he was innocent, but sir (convict Narayan Tamuli) didn’t listen to us. Now it’s 2024, and today we got the judgement. Finally, the court has decided the punishment.”

His words reflect a deep pain that has lingered for years, but also a sense of hope that justice has finally been served. “I urge you all to come to the court with your cases and trust the court. The judiciary never fails you,” he said, expressing gratitude to those who stood by his family throughout their long ordeal.

Looking Ahead

For many, this ruling is not just about justice for Motahir Ahmed Tapadar and his family, but a reaffirmation of faith in the judicial system. “This decision will restore the faith of people in the judiciary and also ensure that people don’t succumb to police pressure,” said advocate Imad Uddin Bulbul, who has been a steadfast presence throughout the case.

As the community reflects on this landmark ruling, there is a sense of closure, albeit one tinged with the sorrow of loss. The case serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of accountability, transparency, and the rule of law in a democracy. It also stands as a testament to the resilience and courage of those who, even in the face of overwhelming odds, never stopped fighting for justice.

Imad Uddin Bulbul, the advocate representing the victim’s family after this landmark judgement said, “The case is of September 20, 2007. The accused Motahir Ali was arrested for one minor scuffle that broke out in the area. After he was taken to the Kalain Out Post, the SI demanded 10,000 rupees to release him. As Motahir Ali couldn’t pay that amount, he was inhumanely tortured and he was badly hurt. The next day, Motahir Ali succumbed to the injuries inflicted on his body by the SI Narayan Tamuli. Ali’s wife had filed a case and a long struggle of 17 years had finally brought fruit to the long wait and trust in the judiciary. Today FTC Judge Narayan Upadhyaya gave Tamuli a life imprisonment sentence. Before that on August 27, he was proven guilty and was sent to jail”.

Bulbul who has been present from the time of the filing of FIR by Alimnun Nessa, the wife of the murdered Mothair Ali has expressed his happiness saying that this decision will restore the faith of people in the judiciary and also ensure that people don’t succumb to the police pressure.

“To keep running after a case for 17 years is very difficult”, said the senior advocate Bulbul. “It is even difficult when it is against the police. You need courage and we showed this courage”.