Ashwini Kumar murder case: Thalassery Court acquits all accused except one

KANNUR: The Thalassery Additional Sessions Court acquitted all but one of the accused in the 2005 murder case of RSS leader Ashwini Kumar, a 27-year-old resident of Keezhur, Iritty. First Additional District Sessions Judge Philip Thomas delivered the judgment, holding only the third accused, MV Marshook (38), a resident of Chavassery, responsible for the crime. Thirteen other NDF activists were acquitted.

The sentence for MV Marshook is set to be pronounced on November 14. The prosecution, represented by District Government Pleader Adv. BP Saseendran, expressed disappointment with the verdict. Saseendran argued that Ashwini Kumar was killed due to religious intolerance, despite having no personal conflict with the accused. He further indicated that the prosecution plans to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the acquittals, citing investigative lapses in apprehending the accused and collecting evidence.

Case background

The incident occurred on March 10, 2005. Ashwini Kumar, a teacher at a Parallel College, was traveling on a bus from Kannur to Peravoor when he was ambushed by the accused at Pazhayancheri Junction. The accused, who arrived in a jeep, forcibly stopped the bus and attacked Kumar.

The 13 individuals acquitted include Nurul Amin (40), PK Aziz (38), M.V. Marshook (38), PM Siraj (38), MK Yunus (43), CP Ummer (40), Ali (45), Naufal (39), Yakub (42), Mustafa (47), Basheer (49), Shammas (35) and Shanavas (44). Each faced trial in connection with the murder.

The investigation was led by Crime Branch officers PK Madhusudanan, K. Saleem, M. Damodaran, D. Sali and MC Kujunmoithin, with a charge sheet filed on July 31, 2009. The case originated from a complaint filed by Lakshmanan of Mavila House.