A special court in Nedumangad, Kerala, has sentenced seven individuals to life imprisonment for the murder of a 19-year-old named Vishnu, which occurred in 2016. The court found these individuals guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. An eighth accused was also found guilty, though sentencing was not delivered due to his death prior to the verdict. The court acquitted five other individuals involved in the case.

Background of the Murder

The murder of Vishnu took place on October 7, 2016, in Kannanmoola after a violent dispute between two criminal gangs. These gangs were reportedly led by Puthenpalam Rajesh and Dini Babu. Vishnu was primarily targeted because of his association with Puthenpalam Rajesh, who had been implicated in the earlier murder of Dini Babu’s brother, Suni Babu, in December 2015. This history of rivalry contributed significantly to the fatal attack on Vishnu.

During the incident, Vishnu’s parents, Anil Kumar and Bindu, along with his aunt Laila, were sustained serious injuries as they attempted to defend him. The brutality of the attack highlighted the dangerous circumstances surrounding the gang rivalry in the region, further exacerbated by personal vendettas.

The case initially started with an investigation by the Pettah police but was soon transferred to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Shangumugham, due to identified lapses in the original inquiry. Following this, another Assistant Commissioner took charge, leading to a revised chargesheet that included new findings and further evidence.

Trial Proceedings and Outcome

The trial included testimonies from a total of 48 witnesses, along with 144 material objects and six documents presented in court. Among the witnesses was Vishnu’s cousin, Adithyan, who was only seven years old at the time of the incident but provided critical testimony regarding the horrific events he witnessed.

Judge A Shajahan of the Nedumangad SC-ST Special Court delivered the life sentences to the seven convicted individuals, identified as Arun alias Paratta Arun, Lallu, Rajesh alias Poocha Rajesh, Sanalkumar alias Sanju, Vijesh alias Vishnu, Manu alias Shetty Manu, and Sreenath alias Bolji. The deceased eighth accused, Suresh alias Ashir, was also determined to be guilty, although he could not be sentenced.

The conviction of seven individuals and the handling of the case reflect the complexities of criminal gang-related activities in the area. The court’s decision to acquit five other individuals involved indicates the thorough evaluation of evidence and testimonies presented during the trial.

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