Kerala: Police face backlash for not including murder and conspiracy in Sidharthan’s FIR

The death of Sidharthan, a student from Kerala, has raised eyebrows as concerns mount over the genuineness of the charge sheet issued by the police. Sidharthan’s family and the public in Kerala are questioning the omission of charges related to attempted murder and conspiracy in the case.

The remand report indicates that Sidharthan received a phone call from his college mates, urging him to return to the campus when he was on his way home to Thiruvananthapuram. The stated intention was a public trial of the victim. Even to a layman, this raises suspicions of a prima facie conspiracy. However, reports suggest that the police have not levied charges of criminal conspiracy against the accused. Legal experts find this omission perplexing, as they assert that the post-mortem report alone provides sufficient evidence for charges of attempted murder.

Under the Prohibition of Ragging Act, 2011, Sidharthan’s injuries, caused by sharp weapons and resembling “tramline injuries,” should have warranted charges of attempted murder. Tramline injuries, often resulting from an attack with a lathi or iron rod, are evident in the post-mortem report. Injuries on Sidharthan’s abdomen, resembling kick marks and thumb impressions, further strengthen the case for attempted murder charges.

Forensic experts have also pointed out neck injuries likely caused by tightening a cable wire, adding another layer of suspicion to the circumstances of Siddardh’s death. The absence of attempted murder charges, despite such compelling evidence, has left many questioning the thoroughness and impartiality of the investigation.

K Surendran, the state President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), criticised the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), alleging it to be worse than any terrorist outfit. He voiced concerns over Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s silence on Sidharthan’s mysterious death, accusing him of ignoring the gruesome incident. Surendran pointed out the CM’s visit to Haryana to offer condolences and financial support to the family of a man killed in a train dispute, contrasting it with his perceived indifference to Sidharthan’s lynching.

Surendran criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accusing him of turning conscienceless and not offering condolences to Siddardh’s grieving family. He alleged that Pinarayi’s silence stems from the involvement of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPM, in the crime. Comparing the incident to a crime thriller, Surendran claimed that the CPM was orchestrating interventions to weaken the case and protect the accused.

The BJP leader highlighted a similar incident at SN College, Koyilandy, Kozhikode, where a public trial and torture occurred, mirroring the alleged circumstances of Siddardh’s death. He expressed concern over the lack of murder charges in the case and accused the CPM of deploying its MLA from the Kalpetta constituency to tamper with evidence.

Surendran called for the intervention of central agencies, asserting that the state police’s hands are tied, and the investigation requires an impartial and thorough examination. He also claimed that 35% of seats in Kerala University remain vacant due to students’ fear of studying in the state, suggesting that the SFI’s influence may be causing a student exodus.

In the wake of these developments, the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University has issued show cause notices to the Dean and Deputy Hostel Warden in connection with Siddardh’s death. They are required to provide explanations by the afternoon of March 4.

The controversy deepened when the ambulance driver revealed that the Dean inquired about whether Siddardh’s family had been informed three hours after the body was taken to the mortuary. This contradicts the Dean’s earlier statement that the family was notified within 10 minutes of discovering the body in a hostel washroom.

As demands for a fair and impartial inquiry intensify, the BJP continues to press for central agency intervention, citing concerns over the integrity of the ongoing investigation and the alleged attempts to shield those involved in Siddardh’s tragic demise.