KANNUR: A Thalassery sessions court in Kerala sentenced Thursday seven BJP-RSS workers to life imprisonment for the 2008 murder of a CPM functionary, K Latheesh. Additional sessions court judge J Vimal found the seven accused guilty, and awarded them 35 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1.4 lakh each. Four other accused in the murder were acquitted.4 accused in murder acquittedThe convictsare P Sumith, 38, K K Prageesh Babu, 46, B Nidhin, 37, K Sanal, 37, Smijan, 42, Sajeesh, 37, and V Jayesh, 39. Four other accused — K Santhoshkumar, B Sharath, E K Sanish and BJP neta and former municipal councillor Ajesh of Kunnumpurath — were acquitted for lack of evidence. One accused, KAjith, died during the trial.
The court ordered that upon payment of the fine, Rs 5 lakh should be given as compensation to Latheesh’s mother, and Rs 75,000 to Suresh, who was injured in the attack.Latheesh, CPM’s Thiruvangad local committee member and area joint secretary of a CITU-affiliated fisher workers’ union, was hacked to death on Dec 31, 2008, at Chakyathmukku beach. As fisherfolk and others rushed to the spot on hearing the commotion, the accused hurled bombs to create panic, and escaped.
