Kerala High Court Suspends Sentences Of 4 Persons Convicted In 2003 Muthanga Land Agitation
Kochi, Kerala: Kerala High Court on Friday, August 21, suspended the sentences of four persons convicted in the 2003 Muthanga land agitation case. Activist M Geethanandan, Binu, Ramesan and Anilkumar had been convicted in an attempt to murder case during the Muthanga land uprising.
A sessions court had found the accused guilty and sentenced to five years in jail over a violent confrontation between police and adivasi protesters at the Muthanga in 2003. While hearing an appeal filed by activist M Geethanandan, and three others, justice A Badharudeen passed the order suspending the sentences and granting them bail subject to conditions, Bar and Bench reported.
Read Also: Muthanga Uprising: The Real Life Story Behind Tovino Thomas’ ‘Narivetta’
During an eviction drive carried out by the Kerala Police at the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad in 2003, hundreds of Adivasis and other activists protested against the move, leading to the violent confrontation between the police and Adivasi protesters.
The incident escalated into police firing, leading to the death of five protesters and a police constable. After a sessions court found the accused guilty of offences including attempt to murder Senior Civil Police Officer Abdul Salam, kidnapping Forest Range Officer PK Sasidharan, causing grievous hurt with dangerous weapons, wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly, it sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for five years and payment of fines.
Read Also: CK Janu: The Tribal Activist Behind Muthanga Uprising That Inspired “Narivetta”
Though they were acquitted of the charge relating to the death of constable Vinod, they remained in jail for other charges. The accused then moved the High Court contending that their conviction could not be sustained on the basis of the sessions court finding relating to criminal conspiracy.
