The Hindu : National : Father jailed for causing table tennis player’s death

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Father jailed for causing table tennis player’s death

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: A fast track court on Tuesday sentenced Dipak Bhattacharyya, father of State-level table tennis player Biswadip Bhattacharyya, to seven years rigorous imprisonment and a Rs. 2,000 fine for causing the death of Biswadip two years ago.

Biswadip’s mother Papiya Bhattacharyya said that she would appeal for a stronger sentence.

Papiya and daughter Neha were key witnesses in this case. Papiya said she would file an appeal in the Calcutta High Court as she did not want to lose her daughter the same way as she had lost her son. “I fear for her life and my own,” she said after hearing the sentence. She felt that a life sentence should have been awarded to her husband. Mr. Bhattacharyya’s lawyer too said that that he would appeal against the order in the Calcutta High Court.

Police arrested Dipak Bhattacharyya on the basis of a version given by his wife and daughter soon after his son’s death in January 2007. They said that he used to brutalise and beat up Biswadip whenever he felt that the 15-year-old boy was under-performing in his game. Biswadip was a member of the medal-winning Bengal team in the sub-junior National TT championships in 2004.

Biswadip’s coach said the boy was talented, but his father’s expectation transgressed all limits of practicality.

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