Kochi
The much-publicised Madhu murder case saw the special court for Scheduled Castes and Tribes (POA) Act, Mannarkad, Palakkad, on Tuesday finding 14 of the 16 accused guilty of lynching the tribal man. While two of the accused were acquitted, the quantum of punishment will be pronounced by the court on Wednesday.
The trial in the case was completed under the observation of the Kerala High Court and it saw 24 of the witnesses, including some relatives of Madhu too, turning hostile during the course of hearing.
Nevertheless, circumstantial and digital evidence like the photos and videos which were circulated on social media by the accused themselves became the undoing of the accused as the prosecution used them effectively to get justice for the man from the Scheduled Tribes community
The court charged the guilty under section 304 (2) culpable homicide and under the Prevention of Atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Tribes Act. One of the two acquitted had been charged with taking photos and videos of Madhu being harassed and beaten by the mob and then circulating them on social media. The charges against the other was that he called Madhu a thief.
Madhu, who was 27 years old in 2018, was staying in a rock cave in Ajumudi hills near Chindaki in Attappadi. He was pulled out, paraded, beaten up and kicked by a mob which accused him of stealing provisions from shops.
Madhu was living a nomadic life after quitting his skill training in carpentry job in in Alappuzha. He left this after a scuffle and returned to Attappadi. He used to wander in the plains, hills and forests here, only visiting his house occasionally.
