Tuesday, 15 July 2014
High-Profile Newspaper Editor Convicted of Murdering Three Employees
Sushil Chowdhury, 76, the owner and editor of regional daily Dainik Gandoot, was found guilty on Monday of killing his driver, a proof-reader and manager last year. An Agartala court will sentence him on Thursday. He faces death penalty or life in jail.
Mr Chowdhury is a high profile editor who has been on many foreign tours with presidents and prime ministers.
The police allege that he was involved in shadowy land deals and killed his manager, Ranjit Chowdhury, 61, in May last when he threatened to expose him.
Mr Chowdhury's driver Balaram Ghosh, 31, was allegedly part of the murder plan. He and proof reader Sujit Bhattacharjee, 25 - who had allegedly witnessed the manager's murder - allegedly stabbed each other in the editor's presence.
The discovery of three bodies in Mr Chowdhury's office with signs of strangling and stabbing caused a sensation across the northeast and added to the statistic of "murderous attacks on the media."
Many reports talked about unknown assailants who came on a motorcycle stormed the office and first asked for the editor before going on a killing spree.
Mr Chowdhury told the police that he was the target but could come up with no reason. He claimed he had been upstairs and had heard screams but assumed them to be from a television.
He also announced a reward of Rs. 10 lakh for any information on the "killers".
On investigating, the police questioned why the editor of a daily with poor circulation would be targeted without any apparent motive.
The driver's wife Niyati Ghosh, who was also present during the murders, reportedly helped the police zero in on Mr Chowdhury.
After first backing the editor's story, Niyati broke down after her arrest and turned "approver" for the case. She was released on Monday
