Kasaragod, Aug 31: A sessions court in Kasaragod has sentenced four men affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to life imprisonment for the 2008 murder of a 56-year-old Muslim man, who was president of a mosque committee in the region. The crime, which occurred in front of the victim’s son, is considered a major conviction in a long-standing communal violence case.
The Kasaragod Additional Sessions Court-II, presided over by Judge Priya K, found Santhosh Naik (37), K. Sivaprasad (41), Ajithkumar K. (36), and K.G. Kishorkumar (40) guilty of the premeditated murder of C.M. Mohammed Kunhi, president of Bilal Mosque in Adkathbail, Kasaragod town.
The brutal killing took place on April 18, 2008, during a period of intense communal violence in Kasaragod, which saw at least four people lose their lives over the course of five days.
According to the prosecution, Kunhi was ambushed by the four men on Gudde Temple Road while on his way to prayers. The assailants restrained his arms and fatally stabbed him, leaving him to die on the spot. His son, Shihab, who was walking a short distance behind, witnessed the horrifying attack. Shihab, along with another eyewitness, provided crucial testimony that led to the conviction of the accused.
This case marks the first conviction in a communal murder in Kasaragod in over 15 years. The case was prosecuted by Adv CK Sreedharan, a noted criminal lawyer and Special Public Prosecutor. The initial defence for the accused was led by senior BJP leader P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, who later became the Governor of Goa. Following his appointment, the defence was taken over by Advocates Joseph from Kozhikode and P. Murali from Kasaragod.
The sentencing has been seen as an important step in addressing the communal violence that has plagued the region, with the court’s decision reinforcing the rule of law in cases of communal crimes.
