Alappuzha: The Mavelikkara Sessions Court awarded a death sentence to all 15 accused in the premeditated murder of BJP OBC Morcha state secretary and lawyer, Adv. Ranjith Sreenivasan. The rare occurrence of 15 individuals receiving the death penalty for a single murder marked a significant chapter in the history of justice.
The court fully endorsed the prosecution’s claim that the accused were members of the banned terrorist organisation, Popular Front of India (PFI), and executed the heinous act with the support of the terrorist organisation.
The incident unfolded on December 19, 2021, when Adv. Ranjith Sreenivasan was hacked to death in his house. Unlike previous political assassinations in the state, in this case, a hit list was prepared by the accused and brutally executed with precise planning. The act, termed an act of terrorism, gained national attention due to its alarming nature.
The timeline of the case unfolded as follows:
- 22.12.2021: A special investigation team, led by Alappuzha DySP, was formed to investigate the case.
- 18.03.2022: 15 accused arrested, and chargesheet submitted.
- 23.04.2022: Adv. Prathap G Padickal is appointed as Special Prosecutor.
- 26.04.2022: Case transferred to Alappuzha Sessions Court.
- 10.10.2022: The High Court transfers the case to Mavelikara Additional District Sessions Court following the accused’s demand for a change of the trial court.
- 16.12.2022: Reading of the charge sheet against the accused.
- 16.01.2023: Mavelikkara Additional Sessions Court Judge VG Sridevi orders the trial to begin from February 16.
- 16.02.2023: Time sought to appoint counsel for the accused.
- 12.04.2023: The court orders to start witness examinations on April 17th.
- 17.04.2023: Witness testimony begins under police security.
- 05.05.2023: High Court stays trial proceedings for one month.
- 24.06.2023: After the High Court rejects the plea for a change of court, the court orders the resumption of witness examinations from July 12.
- 28.10.2023: The examination of 156 witnesses, lasting 49 days, concludes.
- 13.11.2023: Approximately six thousand pages of information were recorded.
- 15.12.2023: Finalisation of arguments completed.
- 29.01.2024:The court delivered a verdict, sentencing all the accused to death.
The 15 PFI terrorists who have been sentenced to death:
- Komalapuram native Naisam
- Mannanchery native Ajmal
- Alappuzha West native Anoop
- Aryad Thekku native Mohammed Aslam
- Mannanachery native Abdul Kalam (Salam)
- Adivaram native Abdul Kalam
- Alappuzha west native Safaruddin
- Mannanchery native Manshad
- Alappuzha West native Jaseeb Raja
- Mullakkal native Navaz
- Komalapuram native Sameer
- Mannanchery North native Naseer
- Mannanchery native Zakir Hussain
- Thekkeveliyil native Shaji (Poovathil Shaji)
- Mullakkal native Shernaz Ashraf
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