The trial in the killing of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T.P. Chandrasekharan will commence at the Special Additional District Sessions Court (Marad cases) at Eranhipalam here on February 11.
Special judge R. Narayana Pisharadi on Thursday scheduled to examine 280 witnesses during 48 working days till April 17. The case relates to some Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders allegedly hatching a plot and hiring a gang to kill Chandrasekharan at Onchiyam on May 4, 2012. Chandrasekharan had walked out of the CPI (M) and had floated a dissident outfit posing a challenge to the party in rural Kozhikode.
The schedule has been prepared so as to complete the trial in the wake of an order of the High Court of Kerala directing the special court to complete the trial before July 31, 2013. Five police officers — Deputy Superintendents of Police, V.K. Abdul Khader; A.P.Shoukath Ali; Jossy Cherian; and K.V. Santosh and Circle Inspector V.V. Benny — will be examined soon after the deposition of prosecution witnesses. The questioning of 72 accused by the judge will take place only after that, possibly in May.
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Vadakara sub inspector P.M. Manoj has been named first witness while K.K. Rema, wife of Chandrasekharan, is 12 witness. They will be examined on February 14.
However, the deposition of witnesses will not take place on February 20 and 21 in view of an all-India strike.
The death of an eyewitness V.K. Ramachandran on October 26, due to cancer, is being considered a loss for the prosecution. Ramachandran, who was named second witness, had given vital clues about the suspects. He along with local people were preparing for anniversary of Brother’s Club, Vallikkad, when the RMP leader was killed at 10.15 p.m.
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Fifty-eight accused out of the 72 were present in court on Thursday. The rest gave a leave application. Twelve who were in remand custody were brought from the Kannur Central Prison and the Kozhikode Distri ct Jail.