Melur double murder case: Supreme Court upholds life imprisonment of four CPM workers

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has upheld the life imprisonment of four CPM workers accused in the murder case of RSS workers Sujeesh and Sunil in Kannur Melur. The court rejected the appeals of Panniyodan Sivadasan alias Sivatty, Edakandi Ashokan alias Kokkodan Ashokan, Vellora Pradeepan alias Eduppi Pradeepan and Badiyil Reneef. A bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prasanna B Varale held that there was no error in the action of the Kerala High Court which accepted the judgment of the trial court. The first respondent P. Dinesan alias Edakandi Dinesan had died during the pendency of the appeal.

At the same time, the Supreme Court observed that such crimes create fear in society. The court took the testimony of three eyewitnesses into account.

Political rivalry

CPM workers attacked Sujeesh, Sunil and others at midnight on March 1, 2002 after a group of CPM workers in Melur joined the RSS. They were sleeping in a shed by the Melur River. Sujeesh was seriously injured in the attack with an axe and a sword and was taken to Thalassery Hospital where he died. Sunil's body was found the next day in a nearby swamp.

Appeal must be dismissed: State Govt

The state government demanded that the appeal of the CPM workers be dismissed. It was argued that the High Court upheld the conviction on the basis of evidence. The government pointed out that there is no mistake in the High Court's action.