Kerala - Kozhikode   

Marad case: verdict postponed

KOZHIKODE: The Special Court trying the Marad case has postponed the pronouncement of the verdict to December 27.

Special Court judge Babu Mathew P. Joseph had earlier announced that the judgment in the killing of nine fishermen in the Marad coastal village would be delivered on November 29. However, the judge, on Saturday, recorded “in spite of my regular hard work and earnest effort, preparation of the judgment could not be completed. A few more weeks are required for its completion. Hence I am posting the case for judgment to December 27.” When the court assembled in the morning, the judge sought the views of counsel for the prosecution and defence sides. The judge later said 20 more working days were required. He said 90 per cent of the work had been completed. “I am working from 8.45 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day without taking a single day’s leave. My office also operates like that.”

The postponement in the judgment has brought relief to the Revenue and Police departments. The police had favoured deferment in the verdict citing law and order problem if the judgment coincided with the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6.

The Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department, which probed the case, had at one stage planned to move the Marad Special Court for the postponement of the verdict quoting reports from North Zone Inspector-General of Police Kundan Singh Jangpangi and the Special branches of the State police. But, it later did a volte face on its decision sensing that the court would not give a favourable dispensation.

The district administration had strengthened security in view of the verdict on Saturday. The Collector in his capacity as District Magistrate has clamped prohibitory orders under Section 20 and 21 of the Kerala Police Act at all communally sensitive places in the district, including Marad and Beypore police station limits, and at the Marad special court. The ban orders will continue for the coming days. Patrolling had also been intensified in the city.

A large posse of police personnel were deployed at the Eranhipalam junction. More than 250 policemen, including those escorting an accused, were deployed on duty. Metal detectors and police pickets were installed at several places in and around the court. District Collector A. Jayathilak and Kozhikode City Police Commissioner Anup Kuruvilla John were present to supervise the security arrangements.

Nearly 139 persons are facing trial in the case. As many as 84 under-trials were released after getting bail from the High Court of Kerala. The Special Court later remanded five of them after they were found to have violated the stringent bail conditions.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Tourist boat service inaugurated
Discussion on ‘Muhyidheen Mala’
Subicsha plans to open food processing centre
Technical assistant required
Need to step up coastal surveillance
Man gets life term for murder
Emergency care facilities at taluk hospital soon
Order against Registrar stayed
Marad case: verdict postponed
Imagination takes varied hues
Report of BCs panel in a month
Another frog species discovered
In Kozhikode Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu