KANNUR: The additional sessions court in Kerala's Thalassery convicted on Saturday nine BJP-RSS workers for the murder of 26-year-old DYFI activist Rijith on Oct 10, 2005, marking the conclusion of a 19-year-long trial. Rijith was killed following a violent clash over the opening of an RSS branch.
The court will announce the sentencing on Jan 7.
According to police, the political dispute escalated into a brutal attack near a temple at Thachankandi in Kannur, where Rijith and his friends were ambushed by the accused wielding swords and knives. Rijith died of his wounds en route to hospital.
The court convicted nine men - VV Sudhakaran (56), KT Jayesh (39), CP Renjith, PP Ajeendran (50), IV Anil Kumar (51), PP Rajesh (46), VV Sreekanth (46), VV Sreejith (42), and TV Bhaskaran (66). The tenth accused Ajesh died before the trial concluded.
Special public prosecutor BP Saseendran lauded the verdict: "The court accepted our argument that Rijith was murdered by the RSS-BJP gang over a political dispute. We provided conclusive evidence to prove our case."
The prosecution's case relied on testimony from 28 witnesses, 59 documents, and 50 material pieces of evidence.
Rijith's family expressed relief and satisfaction with the verdict. "We waited 19 years for this day," said his sister Sreeja. His mother added: "We hope all convicts receive the maximum punishment."
The case remains a stark reminder of the violent political rivalry in Kerala, particularly in Kannur, a region often marred by clashes between RSS-BJP and CPM.
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