Tribal man Madhu lynching case: Kerala court finds 14 out of the 16 accused men guilty

A crowd lynched Madhu on February 22, 2018. There were many twists in the case with 24 witnesses turning hostile with as many as three Special Public Prosecutors having only a brief stint.

            Tribal man Madhu lynching case: Kerala court finds 14 out of the 16 accused men guilty

PALAKKAD: The special court for Scheduled Castes and Tribes (POA) Act, Mannarkad, Palakkad, on Tuesday found 14 of the 16 accused guilty of lynching a 27-year-old tribal man Madhu.

The quantum of punishment will be pronounced by the court on Wednesday.

The trial in the case was completed under the observation of the Kerala High Court.

It may be noted that of the 103 persons who were examined as witnesses, 24 of them had turned hostile.

Many of the relatives of Madhu themselves had turned hostile.

However, circumstantial and digital evidence like the photos and videos which were circulated on social media by the accused themselves were effectively presented by the Prosecution.

The court charged the guilty under section 304 (2) culpable homicide and under the Prevention of Atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Tribes Act.

Only the fourth accused, Aneesh, 38, of Kunnath house, Kakkupadi, Kalkandi, and the eleventh accused, Abdul Kareem, 52 of Cholayil, Mukkali, Kallamala were acquitted.

Those who were pronounced guilty were the:

• first accused Hussein, 59, of Mecheriyil, Paakulam, Thavalam

• second accused Marakkar, 41, of Killayil, Mukkali, Kallamala

• third accused Shamsudheen, 41, of Pothuvachola, Mukkali, Kallamala

• fifth accused Radhakrishnan

• sixth accused Aboobacker, 39, of Pothuvachola, Kallamala, Mukkali

• seventh accused Siddique, 46, of Kurrikal house, Padinjarepalla, Mukkali, Kallamala

• eighth accused Ubaid, 33, of Thottiyil house, Mukkali, Kallamala

• ninth accused Najeeb, 41, Viruthiyil, Mukkali

• tenth accused Jaijumon, 52, of Mannampatta house, Mukkali, Kallamala

• twelfth accused Sajeev, 38, of Puthenpurackal, Kottiyurkunnu, Kallamala

• thirteenth accused Satheesh, 43, Murikada, Mukkali, Kallamala

• fourteenth accused Hareesh, 42, of Cheruvil, Mukkali

• fifteenth accused Biju, 45, of Cheruvil,  Mukkali

• sixteenth accused Muneer, 36, of Viruthiyil, Mukkali

The charges by the prosecution against the fourth accused, Aneesh, is that he took the photos and videos of Madhu being harassed and beaten by the mob and circulated them on social media. The charges against the 11th accused Abdul Kareem is that he called Madhu a thief. The court acquitted both of them.

Madhu, a tribal youth, was lynched by a mob in Attappadi on February 22, 2018.

Madhu who was staying in a rock cave in Ajumudi hills near Chindaki in Attappadi was pulled out and made to walk four kilometres to Mukkali and was later beaten up and kicked by a mob accusing him of stealing provisions from shops. 

Madhu was 27 years old when he was killed. Madhu had dropped out of seventh grade when his father expired, and he took up skill training in carpentry under the ITDP programme and found work in Alappuzha. He left this after a scuffle and returned to Attappadi, where he was living a nomadic life. He used to wander in the plains, hills and forests here, only visiting his house occasionally.

There were many twists and turns to the case with as many as three Special Public Prosecutors (SPP) having only a brief stint.

Finally, it was Rajesh M Menon who was made the SPP and then the hearing in the case began four years ago.