Death sentence for 5 CPM men in Kerala
By S. Chandrasekhar
December 1, 1999 is a day which can never be forgotten by any right thinking individual living in a civilised society. It was on that day that K.T. Jayakrishnan, State Vice-President of the Kerala Unit of Yuva Morcha, a darling of the entire people irrespective of political hues and a teacher in East Mokeri U.P. School in Kannur, was stabbed, butchered and killed in broad day-light right in front of the students whom he was teaching, by a huge CPM mob. Kerala has seen several CPM-RSS clashes during the past four decades in which many on both sides have lost their lives. But to this date there is no precedent to the brutality and savagery exhibited in this case.
A huge mob of CPM activists barged into the classroom, where Jayakrishnan was taking classes, pounced on him attacking him with swords, axes and machetes. Blood sprayed on the walls of the classroom and on the tiny tots. Many of the children fainted on seeing the gory sight. After killing him, the mob wrote on the class blackboard that anyone giving evidence against them would be eliminated like Jayakrishnan. They then left in a victory procession brandishing the blood-stained weapons.
The trial for the murder case took place in the Thalassery court and in a landmark judgement Judge K. K. Chandradas gave death sentence to five CPM activists Pradeepan, Dinesh Babu, Sundaran, Shaji and K.K. Anilkumar. Another highlight of the trail was that, despite the CPM threat, several students came forward and gave evidence against the butchers.
The CPM, which gives long lectures to the RSS and BJP on honouring court verdicts, openly protested against the court verdict and the judge by burning his effigies in several parts of Kerala. The CPM also collected crores of rupees for the legal battle against the lower court verdict in the High Court.
The CPM, which gives long lectures to the RSS and BJP on honouring court verdicts, openly protested against the court verdict and the judge by burning his effigies in several parts of Kerala. The CPM also collected crores of rupees for the legal battle against the lower court verdict in the High Court.
A division bench of the High Court, consisting of Judges K. Padmanabhan Nair and V. Ramkumar confirmed the death sentence of the five CPM activists on July 27, 2005. The judgement said that since the CPM could not tolerate the growing popularity of Jayakrishnan, and also the fact that he was propagating an ideology alien to them, they decided to liquidate him. The judgement said Jayakrishnan was not involved in any criminal case and was also not in the habit of ridiculing his political opponents.
The judgement further noted: ?The murderers did not act like human beings. They did not consider the mental trauma and aberrations the children of tender age would suffer on seeing such a grotesque scene. The impact of such an incident is likely to persist and leave an indelible scar in the minds of at least some of the students who witnessed the incident. Many have left that school and joined other schools. A number of students were under mental tension and because of the trauma more than 90 students had to undergo mass counselling.? The Judges also did not find any merit in the contention of the accused that they would reform themselves.
The judgement was also a slap on the face of the CPM which has been practising the politics of violence and murder on its political adversaries.
It is hoped that this judgement will be an eye-opener to the CPM and make it give up violence and face political adversaries politically.
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