The District Jail Superintendent on Monday submitted an application before the Special Additional District and Sessions Court (Marad cases) at Eranhipalam here seeking to shift five accused in the T.P. Chandrasekharan murder case to any central prison or a more secure prison for the smooth functioning of the jail in the city.
In his application, T. Baburaj, superintendent, said that N.K. Sunil Kumar, aka Kodi Suni (third accused); Mohammed Shafi (fifth accused); S. Shijith, aka Annan (sixth accused); K. Shinoj (seventh accused); and C. Rajith (27th accused) had been creating a violent atmosphere in the jail, intimidating jail staffers and frequently attacking other inmates. The presence of these remand prisoners affected the smooth functioning and discipline of the jail, he said.
Special judge R. Narayana Pisharadi has posted the application for hearing to May 15. The prosecution and the defence lawyers have also been informed of such an application. All the 11 accused in judicial custody have been lodged in the Kozhikode district jail. These include seven alleged killers and three Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] leaders.
ADVERTISEMENT
Only recently were two of them – P.K. Kunhanandan, member of the Panur area committee of the [CPI (M)], and Shijith – shifted to the district jail from Kannur Central Prison following an order of the Director-General of Police (Prisons) Alexander Jacob.
This was after citing the hardships faced by jail officials and police personnel in taking them to and fro between Kannur and Kozhikode.
Mr. Baburaj said the five remand prisoners should be moved to a more secure jail in the wake of an incident on Saturday in which another remand prisoner Shajahan, lodged in jail in connection with a case of drug peddling, was attacked outside the toilet. Later, Shajahan was shifted to the nearby district sub-jail owing to fears of more violence.
ADVERTISEMENT
The gang led by Kodi Suni also attempted to assault an assistant jailor and two warders when they tried to prevent them from attacking Shajahan. They also threatened the jail officials and their families with dire consequences and showered abuses on Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
The number of jailors and warders was less on that day as it was a second Saturday.
The situation was brought under control after some of the other inmates, including Kunhanandan and another alleged killer T.K. Rajeesh, pacified the gang. There were allegations that the gang acted under the influence of alcohol.
A fortnight ago, the jail authorities had seized mobile battery chargers from another remand prisoner, Shahul Hameed.