Click to play videoNew Delhi: Former CPM zonal committee secretary in Singur, Suhrid Dutta, and CPI-M supporter Debu Mallik have been awarded life sentence for the murder of anti-land acquisition activist Tapasi Malik in 2006.
Both men were charged under sections 302 (murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 210 (destruction of evidence).
Eighteen-year-old Tapasi, a member of the Krishi Jami Raksha Committee - floated by the Trinamool Congress after land was acquired in Singur for the Tata Motors Nano project - was found murdered on December 18 in 2006 at Bajemelia in Singur.
Her father was a farmer who had lost his land in the acquistion.
Tapasi's charred body was recovered from a ditch near the former Tata Nano project site on December 18, 2006. The CBI took up the investigation in 2007 and subsequently arrested Debu Malik.
CPI-M supporters thronged the court compound on Tuesday with red party flags and posters saying that Dutta was 'innocent' and that the 'real culprits should be punished'.
State Congress working President Pradip Bhattacherjee said it was a blow to the CPI-M, which had not distanced itself from the accused.
After the guilty verdict was announced, Trinamool supporters took out a procession at Singur hailing the judgement. Senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee said in Kolkata, "After the verdict, the Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee government has no moral right to remain in power."
On the defensive since the Nano pullout, the Trinamul Congress has decided to observe Tapasi Mallik Divas in Singur on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Surhid Dutta's counsel, Arindam Bhattacharjee said his client would move the Calcutta High Court.
"After hearing both the sides the honourable court has given life imprisonment. We will challenge this," he said.
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