Rebel leader murder: Relief for CPM men

In its interim order,a special court in Kozhikode Wednesday acquitted 20 persons,including a few CPM leaders in the case pertaining to the murder of CPM rebel leader T P Chandrasekharan. The prosecution had arraigned 56 persons as accused. With the court acquitting 20 of them,only 36 are now facing the trial.

The verdict,which is a major relief for the CPM,came after 23 persons filed discharge petition saying that the prosecution had not furnished any evidence against them. The prosecution had argued that the statement of the investigating officer should be reckoned as evidence against the alleged accused. However,the trial court did not admit the prosecution contention and ordered acquittal of 20 alleged accused.

Of the 166 prosecution witnesses,56 had turned hostile during the trial. This has help-ed the CPM buttress the argument that the case against its leaders was fabricated. Those who were acquitted included CPM Kannur district secretariat member Karai Rajan and SFI district secretary Sarin Sasi.