Published Jan 04, 2025 | 3:03 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 04, 2025 | 3:03 PM
Verdict delivered in 20-year-old political murder case in Kannur
The Thalassery Additional Sessions Court on Saturday found nine RSS-BJP activists guilty in connection with the politically charged murder of CPM activist Rijith, who was stabbed to death nearly two decades ago in Kannapuram Chunda, Kannur.
The court has scheduled the pronouncement of the quantum of punishment for Tuesday, 7 January.
The convicted individuals, identified as Highway Anil, Puthiyapurayil Ajeendran, Thekkeveettil Bhaskaran, Sreejith, Srikanth, Rajesh, Ajesh, Jayesh, and Ranjith, are residents of Chunda and its surrounding areas.
One of the accused, Ajesh, had died in a car accident after the incident, leaving eight others to face charges.
The murder dates back to October 3, 2005, when Rijith, a CPI(M) activist, was attacked by a ten-member gang near the panchayat well in Chunda Thachankandiyal.
The incident, which occurred around 9 pm, also left three other CPI(M) activists injured. The attack reportedly stemmed from a dispute over the opening of an RSS sakha branch at a nearby temple.
Rijith was fatally stabbed while attempting to protect his friend, Vimal, from being assaulted with a stick. Rijith succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the attack.
The verdict was delivered after an extensive trial that saw the testimony of 28 witnesses, along with 59 documents and 50 pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution.
The case has been a long-running and politically sensitive issue in the region, with tensions running high between the rival political factions involved.
The court’s decision marks a significant moment in the long-standing case, which has been closely watched due to its political overtones and the decades-long delay in bringing the accused to trial.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
