Ravidassia at 14:50, 15 June 2024

2024-06-15T14:50:17Z

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{{Short description|Indian doctor killed by tea garden workers}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| image =
| caption =
| date = {{Start date and age|2019|07|31}}
| title = Lynching of Deben Dutta
| location = [[Teok]], [[Jorhat district]], [[Assam]], [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|26.8310|94.4320|display=inline,title}}
| type = Lynching
| fatalities = 1
| victim = Dr. Deben Dutta
| perpetrators = 20+ people
| inquiry = [[Assam Police]]
| accused = 32 people
| convicted = 25 people
| convictions = [[Capital punishment]] to 1<br> [[Life imprisonment]] to 24
}}
The '''lynching of Deben Dutta''' happened on 31 August 2019 when the Teok Tea Estate hospital of [[Jorhat district]] in [[Assam]] was attacked by a mob of tea garden workers angry that treatment delays had caused the death of a worker.<ref name="Wire">{{cite news |last1=Das |first1=Gaurav |title=Assam: 73-Year-Old Doctor Lynched at Tea Estate, 21 Arrested |url=https://thewire.in/rights/deben-dutta-doctor-lynched-assam-jorhat |access-date=4 June 2022 |work=The Wire |publisher=[[The Wire (India)]] |date=2 September 2019}}</ref>

== Hospital attack ==
Dr. Deben Dutta (age 73) was working as the senior medical officer at Teok Tea Estate Hospital when a mob attacked following the allegation of treatment of a tea garden worker Somra Majhi's treatment delay resulted in the worker's death.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jaiswal |first1=Umanand |title=Assam death penalty for lynching doctor |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/assam-death-penalty-for-lynching-doctor/cid/1795269 |access-date=5 June 2022 |work=Telegraph India |publisher=[[The Telegraph (India)]] |date=21 October 2020}}</ref> Dutta attempted to calm the mob but was assaulted and also injured by broken glass stones thrown at the hospital's windows. The mob called for the doctor's lynching, delayed an ambulance arriving at the scene, and prevented Dutta from receiving medical treatment for his injuries.<ref name="Wire"/>

A team of the [[Central Reserve Police Force]] arrived one and half hours later, and they took Dutta to [[Jorhat Medical College and Hospital|Jorhat Medical College Hospital]] but he had already died of injuries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhattacharyya |first1=Smita |title=Tea garden workers beat senior doctor to death in Assam's Jorhat |url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/tea-garden-workers-beat-senior-doctor-to-death-in-assams-jorhat.html |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=NORTHEAST NOW |date=31 August 2019}}</ref> Dutta was blamed for not being present at the hospital when Somra Majhi was admitted in critical condition.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 September 2019 |title=Assam: 73-year-old doctor dies after being beaten up by tea estate workers in Jorhat district |publisher=[[Scroll.in]] |url=https://scroll.in/latest/935905/assam-73-year-old-doctor-dies-after-being-beaten-up-by-tea-estate-workers-in-jorhat-district |access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref>

== Tea Estate doctors resign ==
The incident sparked fear amongst the doctors working in Tea Estate hospitals and 7 doctors resigned from their jobs for their security concerns.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parashar |first1=Utpal |title=7 doctors posted in tea estates in Assam resign fearing security |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/7-doctors-posted-in-tea-estates-in-assam-resign-fearing-security/story-g6fWjO4I1iq71VgkZeQ0QK.html |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=6 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Following the incident, the [[Indian Medical Association]] and Assam Medical service called for a withdrawal of medical services by doctors for 24 hours and on 3 September the doctors across the state withdrew their services except for emergency cases.<ref>{{cite news |title=Assam: 30 arrested for doctor's lynching |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/assam-30-arrested-for-doctor-deben-dutta-lynching-5963390/ |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=The Indian Express |publisher=[[The Indian Express]] |date=4 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Protest at Silchar Medical College hits essential services|url=https://www.nagalandpost.com/index.php/protest-at-silchar-medical-college-hits-essential-services/ |work=Nagaland Post |publisher=[[Nagaland Post]] |date=3 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Press Trust of India |title=Assam docs on strike protesting colleague's murder |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/assam-docs-on-strike-protesting-colleagues-murder-758725.html |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=Deccan Herald |publisher=[[Deccan Herald]] |date=3 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Further, on 4 September, the [[Indian Medical Association]] sought a report from the [[Assam]] [[List of chief ministers of Assam|Chief Minister]] [[Sarbananda Sonowal]] within 24 hours and wrote to the [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]], [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister]], and the Health Minister demanding a legal act to protect health workers.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Press Trust of India|title=IMA warns of nationwide stir over demand for law to protect doctors |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/09/04/ima-warns-of-nationwide-stir-over-demand-for-law-to-protect-doctors.html |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=The Week |publisher=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] |date=4 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The [[World Medical Association]] also condemned the lynching of Dutta and wrote to [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] and Health Minister [[Harsh Vardhan (Delhi politician)|Harsh Vardhan]],<ref>{{cite news |agency=Press Trust of India |title=Medical Association Writes To PM Modi Over Violence Against Doctors |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-medical-associaltion-writes-to-pm-narendra-modi-over-violence-against-doctors-2095413 |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=NDTV. |publisher=[[NDTV]] |date=4 September 2019}}</ref> following which the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Home Ministry of India]] drafted the Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Himanshu Shekhar |title=Up To 10 Years' Jail Proposed For Violence Against Doctors In Draft Bill |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jail-for-up-to-10-years-proposed-for-violence-against-doctors-and-healthcare-personnel-in-draft-bill-2094694 |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=NDTV |publisher=[[NDTV]] |date=3 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Govt proposes legislation to address violence against medical professionals |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/govt-proposes-legislation-to-address-violence-against-medical-professionals-1502795260.html |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=The Statesman |publisher=[[The Statesman (India)]] |date=3 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Health Ministry Proposes Legislation Over Violence Against Doctors |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-health-ministry-proposes-legislation-over-violence-against-doctors/337761/ |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=Outlook |publisher=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)]] |date=14 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

== Family seeks justice ==
Dutta's family wrote to the [[Prime Minister of India]] [[Narendra Modi]] seeking justice for the incident.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ojha |first1=Manoj Kumar |title=Doctor's family seeks justice from Modi |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/doctors-family-seeks-justice-from-narendra-modi/cid/1703305 |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=Telegraph India |date=7 September 2019 |ref=[[The Telegraph (India)]]}}</ref> The family of Dutta and the Indian Medical Association demanded a fast-track trial of the case.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ojha |first1=Manoj Kumar |title=Kin of Dr Deben Dutta want trial fast-tracked |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/kin-of-dr-deben-dutta-want-trial-fast-tracked/cid/1713056 |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=Telegraph India |publisher=[[The Telegraph (India)]] |date=20 October 2019}}</ref>

== Investigation ==
Investigating the incident of Dutta's killing, the [[Assam Police]] arrested 32 people and submitted a charge sheet of 602 pages that included 56 witnesses. The investigation was led by [[Deputy inspector general of police|Deputy Inspector general]] Shiv Prasad Ganjawala.<ref>{{cite news |title=Death for 1, life for 24 for killing Assam doctor |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/death-for-1-life-for-24-for-killing-assam-doctor/articleshow/78778852.cms |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=21 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Government of Assam|Assam government]] decided the trial to be in a fast-track court.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Indo-Asian News Service|title=Assam To Fast Track Trial Of 73-Year-Old Tea Estate Doctor's Killing |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/assam-to-fast-track-trial-of-deven-dutta-jorhat-assam-teok-tea-estate-doctors-killing-2095819 |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=NDTV |publisher=[[NDTV]] |date=5 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Bikash |title=Doctor's death: Assam government orders inquiry and trail in the fast track court |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/doctors-death-assam-government-orders-inquiry-and-trail-in-the-fast-track-court/articleshow/70981841.cms?from=mdr |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=The Economic Times |publisher=[[The Economic Times]] |date=4 September 2019}}</ref>

== Sentencing ==
The trial of the case ended on 12 October 2020. The session court of Jorhat 25 of the 32 accused were convicted under sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (punishment for rioting and armed with deadly weapon), 302 (punishment for murder), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 353 (punishment for assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the [[Indian Penal Code]] and, on 19 October, the court awarded death penalty to one (Sanjay Rajkonwar), and life imprisonment to 24 others for murder of Dutta. Six of the accused were acquitted due to lack of evidences, one accused (Hari Majhi) died during the trial.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mazumdar |first1=Prasanta |title=Assam: One gets death, 24 others lifer in 2019 doctor lynching case |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/oct/20/assam-one-gets-death-24-others-lifer-in-2019-doctor-lynching-case-2212789.html |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=The New Indian Express |publisher=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=20 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhattacharyya |first1=Smita |title=Assam: 25 convicted in Jorhat doctor Deben Dutta lynching case, six others acquitted |url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/assam-25-convicted-in-jorhat-doctor-deben-dutta-lynching-case-six-others-acquitted.html |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=Northeast Now |date=12 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Das |first1=Amlan Jyoti |title=Assam court orders death penalty to tea estate doctor mob-lynching case |url=https://www.eastmojo.com/news/2020/10/20/assam-court-orders-death-penalty-to-tea-estate-doctor-mob-lynching-case/ |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=EastMojo |date=20 October 2020}}</ref> After the judgment was delivered, the Assam Police stated that the case is the first case in India, where witness identity concealment approach was used.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parashar |first1=Utpal |title=Assam court holds 25 guilty in lynching of 73-yr-old tea garden doctor last year |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/assam-court-holds-25-guilty-in-lynching-of-73-yr-old-tea-garden-doctor-last-year/story-lijdwxRFg7nEpQWHyPsTVL.html |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=12 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[2018 Karbi Anglong lynching]]
* [[2013 Jhankar Saikia mob lynching]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |last1=Kumar |first1=Raman |title=Death of a doctor - Ek Doctor Ki Maut-Time to boost the ailing and failing public health system in India. |journal=Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |date=December 2019 |volume=8 |issue=12 |pages=3771–3772 |doi=10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_897_19 |pmid=31879611 |pmc=6924225 |doi-access=free }}

[[Category:Lynching deaths in India]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Attacks on hospitals in India]]

Lynching of Deben Dutta - Revision history

Ravidassia at 14:50, 15 June 2024