By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, August 17: The Dharamshala District Court on Tuesday denied bail plea of the three Indian youth accused in the murder case of Tsultrim Chokden, a Tibetan youth who was killed on October 30, 2015.
Speaking to Phayul, the plaintiff’s lawyer Tenzin Namgyal said that the case against them is strong as there is an eyewitness, the Tibetan girl who was with the deceased on the night of the murder, the police report, post mortem report and around 15 other witnesses.
“I requested the judge to look at the case from holistic view point since it is a delicate communal matter involving people of two communities,” he said.
He added that the court, understanding the gravity of the matter, denied the bail plea stating no ground to grant the bail to the three accused.
“I believe that they have now exhausted all their resources at District level. However, there is still a chance of them filing a review petition or go to Shimla High Court,” Namgyal said.
Arrested under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Court, the defendant had applied for a bail based on the argument stating the lack of plaintiff’s substantive evidence proving them (the three Indian youth) of committing the offence.
However, the plaintiff’s lawyer assured that they have enough evidence and witnesses tying them to the crime, in which Tsultrim Chokden, aged 29, lost his life.
Being the key witness, the Tibetan friend of the deceased is currently under the care of Domey Association and Tibetan Settlement Office, Dharamshala.
The unfortunate incident happened on the night of October 30 last year when the deceased and his female friend, also a Tibetan, were returning home after a dinner to Amdo village, a residential area beside the Bhagsu road.
On the way, the three Indians allegedly teased them, which led to an altercation and Tsultrim suffered multiple stabbing wounds on his abdomen. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Dharamshala Zonal Hospital and the cause of his death was excessive blood loss.
