ALAPPUZHA, KERALA – The Alappuzha court in Kerala has delivered a death sentence to 15 activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) for the murder of RSS activist Ranjith Sreenivasan. This ruling comes after the brutal attack and alleged murder of BJP OBC Morcha state secretary, Ranjith Sreenivasan, on December 19, 2021, in front of his family by PFI activists.
The convicted individuals, affiliated with the now-banned PFI and its political wing, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), were found guilty of this heinous crime, which was believed to be an act of retaliation for the murder of SDPI’s State secretary K S Shan just the night before. Both murders took place in Alappuzha, Kerala.
The prosecution had requested the maximum sentence for the convicts, describing them as a “trained killer squad” and highlighting the cruel and diabolical manner in which the victim was killed in front of his family. The court also ordered the convicts to undergo a mental stability test at the Government Medical College in Alappuzha.
The first set of accused, directly involved in the murder, were found guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including murder, unlawful assembly, house trespass to commit offense punishable with death, criminal intimidation, and wrongful restraint. The second set of accused, who stood guard outside the victim’s house with deadly weapons, were found guilty under other sections of the IPC.
The masterminds behind the murder were also found guilty of criminal conspiracy and murder under specific sections of the IPC. The ruling was announced by Mavelikkara Additional District judge V G Sreedevi.
The murders of both the BJP leader and SDPI leader have caused shock and outrage in the community, sparking a wave of condemnation and calls for justice. The sentencing of the PFI activists is seen as a significant development in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families.
The courtroom decision reflects the grave nature of the crimes committed and sends a powerful message about the consequences of such violent and unlawful acts. The community now awaits the next steps in the legal process and hopes for a resolution that brings closure and justice to all affected parties.