KOCHI: The government has filed an appeal in the High Court stating that the punishment awarded by the trial court to the accused is not enough in the case of Attappadi tribal youth Madhu being beaten to death for allegedly stealing rice. The appeal filed by the government against the April 5 verdict of the Mannarkkad special court is likely to be heard on Friday.

Madhu was killed on February 22, 2018. The appeal says that the Special Court for SC-ST cases has awarded lesser punishment to the accused, avoiding the serious offenses. 13 accused, including the first accused Hussain, were sentenced to seven years in prison and a fine, while the 16th accused, Muneer, was sentenced to three months in prison and a fine of Rs 500. The fourth accused Anish and the eleventh accused Abdul Karim were released without punishment.

The government says that the trial court has passed the judgment without considering the testimony or scientific, digital, and medical evidence produced by the prosecution and demands that the verdict be re-examined and the accused be given due punishment.