Tripura Assembly passes resolution on abolishing death penalty

After setting a precedent in the country by withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the second smallest state of Northeast India, Tripura, created another record when its state legislative assembly on Friday passed a resolution against capital punishment.

According to information reaching here, the Tripura assembly on Friday passed a private member’s resolution abolishing death penalty and providing for imprisonment up to death in rarest of rare cases.

Opposition Congress MLA Jitendra Sarkar moved a private member's resolution in the House, urging the Central Government to enact necessary amendments to the law to abolish death penalty. The resolution was supported by state chief minister Manik Sarkar. “Capital punishment is given on the plea that the guilty had deprived others of their right to live. I cannot support this plea because there is a trend of vengeance,” Sarkar said.

Only two months back, the lone Communist ruled state had decided to withdraw the controversial AFSPA from the state. This sparked a debate across the country on whether other states in the Northeast should follow suit or not. Even on that occasion, political parties in Tripura, cutting across party lines, supported the state government move.