Kerala Court Hands Life Terms to Five in 2016 Moral Policing Murder Case
The Manjeri additional district and sessions court in Kozhikode delivered a landmark verdict on Friday, sentencing five men to life imprisonment for the brutal 2016 moral-policing murder of a 42-year-old man at Mankada in Malappuram district. In a strongly worded observation, judge Thusar M equated the mob lynching carried out by the accused to an act akin to terrorism, underscoring the severity of the crime.
Details of the Accused and Sentences
The five convicted individuals, all residents of Koottil near Mankada, are Nayakath Abdul Nassar (46), his brother Sharafudheen (39), Pattikkuth Suhail (40), Pattikkuth Abdul Ghafoor (60), and Pattikkuth Zakkeer Hussain (49). In addition to life imprisonment, the first, second, and fourth accused received rigorous imprisonment of five years and eleven months along with a fine of Rs 15,000 each.
Accused Suhail and Zakkeer Hussain, who were also found guilty of destruction of evidence, faced additional sentences of seven years and eleven months of rigorous imprisonment and fines of Rs 20,000 each. The court ordered that all sentences run concurrently, ensuring the perpetrators serve substantial time behind bars.
Background of the Case
According to the prosecution, the incident unfolded in the early hours of June 28, 2016, when the accused forcibly broke into a house where the fifth accused's sister-in-law lived alone. They alleged that the victim, Nazeer Hussain, had visited the premises at an odd hour. The mob then subjected Hussain to a savage beating that lasted approximately two hours, using sticks until he fell unconscious.
The court highlighted the cruel and inhuman attitude of the accused, noting that they refused to provide water to the victim or allow him to be taken to a hospital. Hussain later succumbed to his injuries, turning a case of moral policing into a tragic homicide.
Legal Charges and Evidence
The court convicted the accused under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with dangerous weapons), and 449 (house trespass to commit an offence punishable with death). A crucial piece of evidence was video footage retrieved from the mobile phone of the first accused, which recorded the brutal assault and showed three of the accused attacking the victim.
Special public prosecutor P G Mathew emphasized that this visual evidence played a pivotal role in securing the convictions. The prosecution examined 39 out of 70 witnesses, including the victim's brother and the house owner, and produced 123 documents along with 22 material exhibits to build a strong case.
Investigation and Acquittals
The investigation was led by then Perinthalmanna circle inspectors A M Sidheeq and Saju K Abraham, who meticulously gathered evidence to support the charges. However, three other individuals—Chennekkunnan Shafeeq (40), Mukkilpeedika Parambath Mansoor (40), and Ambalappally Abdul Naser (41)—were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, highlighting the challenges in prosecuting such mob violence cases.
This verdict sends a strong message against vigilante justice and moral policing in Kerala, reinforcing the legal system's commitment to holding perpetrators accountable for acts of violence that undermine societal peace and security.
