Tripura High Court has acquitted two men who were earlier awarded life imprisonment in connection with the 2019 killing of a UCO Bank manager near Jackson Gate in Agartala.

According to defence counsel Subrata Sarkar, the incident occurred on the night of August 3–4, 2019. Bodhisattya Das, who was serving as a manager at UCO Bank’s Dharmanagar branch, had come to Agartala and was spending time near Jackson Gate with a friend when the altercation took place.

As per the case details, three individuals — Sukanta Biswas, then serving as an inspector in the Tripura Traffic Police, along with Sumit Banik and Sumit Chowdhury — allegedly arrived at the location in a vehicle. A dispute reportedly broke out after the bank manager and his companion objected to their behaviour, leading to a scuffle.

During the confrontation, another accused, identified as Soheb Miah, allegedly appeared at the spot and attacked Das with a sharp weapon, inflicting multiple injuries.

The injured bank official was later taken to hospital by police and fire service personnel. Investigators claimed that before his death, Das had named several individuals allegedly involved in the incident. Subsequently, an FIR was lodged by the victim’s mother, leading to the arrest of all accused persons. Following trial proceedings, a lower court had sentenced four accused to life imprisonment.

Later, appeals challenging the conviction were moved before the High Court on behalf of Sumit Banik and Sumit Chowdhury. The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Justice T. Amarnath Goud and Justice S. Datta Purkayastha.

In its judgment delivered on Tuesday, the High Court acquitted Banik and Chowdhury of all charges. Defence counsel argued that the two appellants neither participated in nor had prior knowledge of the fatal attack, contending that the stabbing was carried out suddenly and independently by the principal accused.

Accepting these submissions, the court granted them acquittal, while the remaining two convicts continue to serve their sentences in jail.