Kerala Court Hands Life Sentences in 2016 Moral Policing Murder Case
An additional district and sessions court in Manjeri town, located in Kerala's Malappuram district, delivered a landmark verdict on Friday, sentencing five men to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a 42-year-old individual in Mankada village back in 2016. The case, which has drawn widespread attention as a stark example of moral policing, saw the court impose severe penalties after convicting the accused under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Judge Compares Lynching to Terrorism in Pronouncing Verdict
While announcing the judgment, Judge Thusar M made a powerful observation, stating that the lynching was akin to terrorism. This remark underscored the gravity of the crime, which involved a group assault that led to the victim's death. The court found the five men guilty under IPC sections 302 for murder, 143 for unlawful assembly, 147 for rioting, 148 for rioting armed with dangerous weapons, and 449 for house trespass with intent to commit an offence punishable by death.
Details of the Convicts and Additional Sentences
The convicted individuals have been identified as Nayakath Abdul Nassar, aged 46, his brother Sharafudheen, 39, P Suhail, 40, P Abdul Ghafoor, 60, and P Zakkeer Hussain, 49, all residents of Koottil near Mankada. In addition to the life imprisonment, the two brothers and Ghafoor were each sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of five years and 11 months, along with a fine of Rs 15,000. The other two accused, who were also convicted for destruction of evidence, received additional rigorous imprisonment of seven years and 11 months and a fine of Rs 20,000 each. All sentences are set to run concurrently.
Three Accused Acquitted Due to Lack of Evidence
In a related development, three other individuals named in the case—C Shafeeq, 40, M Parambath Mansoor, 40, and A Abdul Naser, 41—were acquitted by the court. The acquittal was based on a lack of sufficient evidence to prove their involvement in the crime, highlighting the judicial system's commitment to due process and fairness.
Brutal Assault and Cruelty Detailed in Prosecution 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 sister-in-law of P Zakkeer Hussain lived alone. They alleged that the victim, Nazeer Hussain, had visited at an odd hour, leading to a violent confrontation. The accused brutally beat Hussain with sticks for approximately two hours, leaving him unconscious. The court noted with condemnation that the accused showed a cruel and inhuman attitude by not providing water to the victim or allowing him to be taken to a hospital.
Key Evidence from Recorded Assault Footage
Special Public Prosecutor P G Mathew revealed that crucial evidence in securing the convictions came from visuals retrieved from the phones of two of the accused. These individuals had recorded the brutal assault, and the footage played a pivotal role in establishing their guilt. This digital evidence proved instrumental in the court's decision, demonstrating how modern technology can aid in delivering justice in such heinous crimes.
