THALASSERY: Nine RSS-BJP activists have been sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of one lakh each in the case of killing CPM activist Rijith Shankaran (26). Accused seven and eight are brothers.

The judgment of Thalassery Addl District Sessions Third Court Judge Ruby K Jose is in a murder that happened about twenty years ago. Among the ten accused, the third accused Ajesh died in a car accident during the trial.

VV Sudhakaran (57), Jayesh (41), CP Ranjith (44) of Kannapuram Chunda, PP Ajeendran (51), IV Anilkumar (52), PP Rajesh (46), VV Srikanth (47) and his brother VV Sreejith (43) and TV Bhaskaran (67) got life imprisonment.

Rijith of Alachi House, who was a member of CPM Kannapuram Chunda branch, was killed on October 3, 2005 at 9 pm. Rijith was attacked near the panchayat well of Chunda Thachankandi temple while returning home with his friends Nikesh, Vimal, Vikas and Sajevan. The reason was a dispute over the opening of an RSS branch in a nearby temple.

The court found that the accused had committed the crimes of murder, attempt to murder, unlawful assembly, rioting by a group, detention and causing injury with a weapon. The first six accused were sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment for possession of weapons. The penalty is to be paid to the heirs of Rijith.

Adv. BP Saseendran was the special prosecutor. TP Premarajan, who was Valapatanam CI, investigated the case. Rijith's mother Janaki, sister Reeja and party workers had come to hear the verdict.

Testimony and bloodstain

• The statements of the three injured people who were with Rijith were decisive. Direct testimony strengthened the case.
• The police recovered the knife used for the murder. Rijith's blood stain was found on the clothes of the accused.
• A single stab by the second accused Jayesh is what caused Rijith's death. He stabbed him with the help of the other accused. This was established by the prosecution.

We were expecting a death penalty. No political party should take a knife and kill. This should be a lesson to all politicians

- Janaki

Rijith's mother

Happy that all the accused got life sentence

-BP Saseendran,

Special Prosecutor