Jomotshangkha drungkhag police have forwarded an alleged assault and battery case to the drungkhag court in Samdrupjongkhar yesterday.

The alleged incident occurred on September 17 around 3pm where Dorji Thinley, who is in his 50s, went shopping with his friends at Baytseling in Lauri gewog.

Sources in Jomotsangkha said Dorji Thinley hit Dorji Lhamo, 38, a shop owner in the locality while consuming beer in her shop.

It was said Dorji Thinley hit Dorji Lhamo on the back asking her what she was doing and Dorji Lhamo also hit him back on his chest.

Sources say Dorji Lhamo was talking with Sangay Pem, 63, when Dorji Thinley hit her.

It was also learnt that Dorji Lhamo went to Zangthi basic health unit (BHU), saying the health officials that she was beaten by a man and has severe back and chest pain on September 18. She also obtained a medical report from the BHU.

On September 20, Dorji Lhamo went to Jomotshangkha and reported the case to the police stating that she has a severe back and chest pain as she fainted after Dorji Thinley hit her .

Police then took her to Jomotshangkha BHU I for further check-up.

According to the medical report, she had a swollen back and a blunt weapon had struck her.

Dorji Thinley was called to the police station and was also taken to Jomotshangkha BHU I for check up as Dorji Lhamo also hit him on his chest. The report also showed that a blunt weapon had struck him.

Dorji Thinley told police that Sangay Pem was an eyewitness to the incident.

As per Sangay Pem’s statement to police, Dorji Thinley hit Dorji Lhamo on her back and she also hit him back on his chest but she didn’t faint.

According to sources, police have questioned them about the party affiliation as one of them was a Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s (DPT) polling representative but police later confirmed that there were no political parties involved in the case.

DPT’s Jomotshangkha-Martsala constituency’s candidate, Norbu Wangzom said she came to know about the case from others after two days. “The party is not involved in the case although Dorji Thinley is my polling representative. It’s between two individuals,” she said.

Police have forwarded the case the Jomotshangkha court and they were both charged for assault and battery.

Kelzang Wangchuk | Jomotshangkha