32 people sentenced in Punakha water feud case

The Punakha District Court has sentenced 32 people, all from Toedpaisa Gewog, to prison terms ranging from six months to one year.

They were convicted in a water feud case in which the water reservoir tanks of Gang-Thra-Mo villagers of Laptsakha Chiwog in Talo Gewog were damaged.

In the judgement passed last Thursday, the court convicted 20 of them for malicious mischief, while the remaining 12 were found guilty of criminal conspiracy.

They can, however, pay thrim thue in lieu of prison term.

The court has ordered each convict to pay Nu 15,721 to Talo Gewog within 10 days from the day of judgement. The Tshogpa of Damkhyi-Rinakha Chiwog in Toedpaisa Gewog is among the convicts.

According to the judgement, the convicts who are from Rinakha, Sitokha, Damkhyi, Loongjam, Chagdana of Toedpaisa Gewog dismantled the water reservoir tanks in January 2016.

The convicts submitted to the court that they carried out the act after the people of Laptsakha deceived them. They said the people of Laptsakha had sourced water from different sources without consulting them. This, they said, resulted in irrigation water shortage for them.

But the prosecutor argued the convicts had taken law into their hands in committing the act and also stated no proper verification has been carried out before they committed the act.

The convicts were also accused of cutting off water pipes but this charge has been deferred after the prosecutor failed to prove it beyond reasonable doubt.

The convicts have 10 working days to appeal to a higher court if they are not happy with the district court’s judgement.

 

Top Stories

Related Stories

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recent Comments

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube