Life Terms for Eight in Kerala Political Murder Case

A court in Kerala has sentenced eight CPI(M) workers to life imprisonment for the murder of BJP worker Elambilayi Suraj, stemming from political rivalry. This case, dating back nearly two decades, saw another convict get a three-year term. The conviction was based on 28 witness testimonies and 51 documents.

In a significant verdict, a Kerala court sentenced eight workers from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to life imprisonment, holding them accountable for the assassination of BJP worker Elambilayi Suraj. The case, resonating with instances of political hostility in the region, involves the murder which occurred nearly twenty years ago.

The district court also issued a three-year rigorous imprisonment sentence for another convict involved, alongside a monetary penalty. Notably, T K Rajeesh, previously convicted in another high-profile murder, was among those handed a life term.

The lengthy judicial process saw testimonies from 28 witnesses and the examination of 51 documentary evidences, leading to the verdict. The case highlights the grim undertones of political discourse, with the murder initially arising from Suraj's decision to switch political allegiance from CPI(M) to the BJP.

(With inputs from agencies.)