In a verdict delivered on Tuesday, a court in Thalassery, Kerala, sentenced nine RSS workers to life imprisonment for the murder of a CPI(M) worker 19 years ago. The case has been a long-standing reminder of the political tensions in the region.
The Incident
On October 3, 2005, Rijith Sankaran, a 25-year-old member of CPI(M) from Kannapuram Chunda, was brutally attacked and killed near a temple in Chunda. The incident occurred during a period of heightened political unrest between the CPI(M) and the RSS in the area.
Rijith was ambushed by the accused, armed with weapons, while he was walking home with friends. The attack left three of his friends injured and resulted in his tragic death.
The Convicts and Charges
The court convicted nine of the ten accused, as one of them had died in a road accident during the trial. The convicts include:
- Sudhakaran (57)
- Jayesh (41)
- Ranjith (44)
- Ajeendran (51)
- Anilkumar (52)
- Rajesh (46)
- Sreekanth (47)
- Sreejith (43) (Sreekanth’s brother)
- Bhaskaran (67)
The convicts were found guilty under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
- Section 302: Murder
- Section 307: Attempted murder
- Section 143: Unlawful assembly
- Section 147: Rioting
- Section 341: Wrongful restraint
- Section 324: Voluntarily causing hurt with weapons
The Verdict
On January 4, the Additional District Sessions Court in Thalassery pronounced the accused guilty, culminating in Tuesday’s sentencing. The life imprisonment sentences underscore the severity of the crime and the judiciary’s commitment to delivering justice.
Background Context
The case is emblematic of the violent political rivalries in north Kerala, especially between the RSS and CPI(M), which have often resulted in clashes and casualties over the years. Rijith’s murder was a flashpoint in this history of conflict.
This ruling brings a measure of closure to the victim’s family and highlights the consequences of politically motivated violence.
