The court upheld the need for sentences to be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime and the impact on the victims, modifying the penalties imposed by the Appellate Court.

1. This appeal under S.378(1)(b) of CrPC read with S.377 of CrPC is preferred challenging the order of conviction and sentence dated 15.12.2023 delivered by Learned Additional Sessions Judge, North Tripura, Dharmanagar in connection with case No. Crl. Appl. No.07 of 2023. By the said order of conviction and sentence Learned Appellate Court has modified the order of conviction and sentence dated 29.08.2023 under S.326/324/34 of IPC delivered by Learned CJM, North Tripura, Dharmanagar in connection with case No.PRC(WP) 19 of 2022 and sentenced the respondent - accused persons to pay a fine of Rs.1000/- each under S.448 of IPC and also sentenced the respondent - accused persons to pay a fine of Rs.1000/- each under S.323 of IPC in default to suffer Simple Imprisonment for one month for each offences and thus acquitted the respondent - accused persons from the charge levelled against them under S.324/326 of IPC.

2. Heard Learned P.P., Mr. Raju Datta along with Mr. Rajib Saha, Learned Addl. P.P. appearing on behalf of the State - appellant and also heard Learned Counsel Mr. Ratan Datta appearing on behalf of all the respondent - accused persons.

3. Taking part in the hearing, Learned P.P. for the appellant first of all drawn the attention of this Court that in this case on the basis of an FIR laid by one Md. Ibrahim Ali, the case was registered under S.447/326/34 of IPC against all the respondent - accused persons and after completion of investigation the IO laid charge sheet against all the respondent - accused persons under S.447/325/34 of IPC and accordingly cognizance of offence was taken and in course of trial Learned Trial Court framed charge against all the accused persons under S.448/326 read with S.34 of IPC and the same was explained to all the respondent - accused persons in Bengali to which they pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.

During trial to substantiate the charge prosecution has adduced in total 6 numbers of witnesses and after closer evidence of the prosecution the respondent - accused persons were examined under S.313(1)(b) of CrPC when they pleaded innocent and also denied to adduce any witness in support of their defence and finally on conclusion of trial Learned Trial Court found the appellants to be guilty and convicted them under S.326 of IPC to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 3 years and to pay a fine of Rs.20,000/- each i.e. to suffer rigorous imprisonment for further 3 months and the Learned Trial Court further sentenced all the aforesaid convicts under S.324 of IPC and to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 1 year each and to pay fine of Rs.5000/- each i.d. to suffer rigorous imprisonment for further one month with a further direction that all the sentences shall run concurrently.

After that, the respondent - accused persons as appellants preferred an appeal before the Court of Learned Sessions Judge, North Tripura, Dharmanagar who transferred the case to the Court of Learned Addl. Sessions Judge, North Tripura, Dharmanagar and the Learned Addl. Sessions Judge, North Tripura, Dharmanagar heard the case on merit and vide judgment dated 15.12.2023 set aside the sentences imposed by the Learned Trial Court under S.326/324/34 of IPC but modified the sentences and convicted the respondent - accused persons under S.448/323 of IPC.

4. Learned P.P. further drawn the attention of the Court that before the Learned Trial Court as already stated the prosecution has adduced in total 6 numbers of witnesses and from the evidence on record it is crystal clear that all the respondent - accused persons committed the offence, so Learned Trial Court rightly found the respondent - accused persons to be guilty and conv