By examining three eye-witnesses on Tuesday, the prosecution tried to convince the Special Additional and District Sessions Court (Marad cases) at Eranhipalam of the role of seven hired killers in hacking to death Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T.P. Chandrasekharan.
On the second day of the trial, the fourth prosecution witness, T.P. Maneesh Kumar, identified all the seven accused – M.C. Anoop, Kirmani Manoj alias Manoj Kumar, N.K. Sunil Kumar alias Kodi Suni, T.K. Rajeesh, Muhammed Shafi, Shijith alias Annan Shijith, and K. Shinoj – who took part in the actual crime at Vallikkad, Onchiyam, at 10.15 p.m. on May 4, 2012.
The case related to a section of leaders of Communist Party of India (Marxist) hatching a plot and engaging a gang to kill Chandrasekharan, a dissident leader who had walked out of the party in 2008 and floated an outfit in rural Kozhikode.
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Testifying before the Special Judge, R. Narayana Pisharadi, the witness said the accused had arrived at the spot in a Toyota Innova Multi Utility Vehicle. Anoop was behind the wheel. Five of them inflicted injuries on Chandrashekaran.
Maneesh also told the court that he knew Kodi Suni and his accomplice Muhammed Shafi some four years ago. They were involved in several criminal cases, he said.
On the day of the murder, Muhammed Shafi threatened to throw a bomb at Maneesh and others, when they tried saving the injured Chandrashekaran. It was Kodi Suni, who hurled the bomb at the rescuers, Maneesh added.
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The fifth witness, T.P. Rameshan alias Dineshan also identified all the assailants except Kodi Suni. He also narrated the incident and identified the swords used by the killers. Investigators had recovered these swords from a well in Kannur.
The court also examined K.K. Praseeth, third witness in the case on Monday. With this, all the three eye-witnesses deposed before the court.
All of them had identified the culprits and the weapons used for the commission of the crime. They would be cross examined by the defence counsels on Wednesday.
Special Prosecutors C.K. Sreedharan and P. Kumarankutty were present in the court. Other witnesses would be examined to prove motive and conspiracy charges in the later stages.
Nearly 57 people faced trial in the case although the police had charge-sheeted 76 persons. Earlier trial court had discharged two people, as there were no sufficient materials to proceed against them. The Kerala High Court last month stayed the trial proceedings against 15 accused. Two others were absconding in the case.