'If they come out, they will kill me and Aneeshettan’s family', Haritha urges to give death penalty to father and uncle

PALAKKAD: Haritha, wife of the late Aneesh, expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict in the Thenkurissi honour killing case. She stated that the punishment given to her father Prabhukumar and uncle Suresh, was inadequate and called for a death penalty. She emphasized plans to appeal the decision, citing fears for her safety and that of Aneesh's family if the accused are eventually released.

"If they come out, they will kill me and Aneeshettan’s family. They walk away laughing, showing no guilt for their wrongdoing. All of them have been involved in criminal cases before. Unsatisfied with the verdict, we will proceed with a government appeal," Haritha said.

The court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment for the murder of Aneesh, an act that shocked the state. Additionally, the accused were fined Rs 50,000. Aneesh, 27, was killed for marrying Haritha, a woman from a different caste, defying her family’s wishes. The brutal attack took place on the 88th day of their marriage, on the evening of December 25, 2020, when Haritha’s father and uncle fatally stabbed him.

Suresh, the primary accused and Prabhukumar, the second accused, were initially investigated by local police, with the case later handed over to the District Crime Branch. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, contending that the murder was premeditated and fueled by the family's objection to the inter-caste union. Aneesh, a painter, had been in love with Haritha since their school days. Following their marriage, Haritha's relatives reportedly threatened Aneesh multiple times.