By Najiya O., TwoCircles.net
Kochi: Three activists of the RSS, found guilty in the Marad clashes that took place in 2002 in Kozhikode district, have been sentenced to five-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 18,000 under various sections of the IPC by the Marad Special Court Judge KP Prasannakumari, today.
Soman (47), Thambi (49) and Velayudhan (57) of Marad were convicted by the court in the Marad Clashes yesterday. The convicts will be kept in the Kozhikode district prison today and taken to Viyyur Central Jail tomorrow.
The convicts were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of two years under IPC 153-A, five years and a fine of Rs 5000 under IPC 436 and two years and a fine of Rs 5000 under IPC 450. The failure of payment of fine as under IPC 436 would be met by normal imprisonment of six months and that of IPC 450 by a normal imprisonment of three months. They were also sentenced for a fine of Rs 3000 or one-month imprisonment under IPC 143 and a fine of Rs 5000 or three-month imprisonment under IPC 148. However, the convicts need undergo the different punishments together which makes it a rigorous imprisonment of five years.
The incident that led to the case took place on 3rd January, 2002 when the house of Seemamoontakath Asainar was set fire by miscreants at night during the clashes that were on in the area. The prosecution argued that the convicts carrying dangerous weapons, kerosene, rods and fire broke open the doors of Asainar’s house and set it on fire. The convicts were charged for assembling illegally, committing deeds provoking communal hatred, etc. Finding the accused guilty of the crime, the court yesterday cancelled their bail and sent them back to the district jail.
There were 22 witnesses in the case. The police had arranged strong security in the court premises. The accused were brought to the court in police vehicle. They are well-known RSS activists of the area. Soman and Thambi are brothers and velayudhan is their relative.
This is the second case related to the Marad clashes in which RSS men are convicted. Six RSS activists were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of five years by the court on April 24, after having been found of destroying the house of Talakkalakath Pathumma.
The police have charged 67 cases, including murder cases, in connection with the Marad clashes of 2002. Trial has begun in 65 cases. However, it is estimated that at least two years will be needed to complete the trial and announce the punishment.
Clashes between two groups of people in Marad, in the coastal area of Kozhikode district, took lives of five people in 2002. Marad is inhabited dominantly by fishermen. The clashes that arose between the Araya community and Muslims led to the killings in which two Hindus and three Muslims lost their lives. Houses, from small huts with thatched roofs to medium houses with tiled roof, were widely attacked and set fire. Many were arrested in connection with the clashes.
In May next year, nine people were killed in Marad, eight Hindus and a Muslim. This led to fresh clashes resulting in the fleeing of a majority of Muslims of the area. The police reportedly recovered many weapons from the masjid in the area and it was sealed. It has not yet been opened for the public. However, almost all of the Muslim families have fled and are living in nearby places, in terrible conditions. Men from majority of the Muslim families were immediately arrested by the police. Several leaders of political parties were not allowed to enter the area by the Araya Samajam, organisation of the Arayas, and RSS. When some Muslim families returned to their houses after many days, they found that their houses were looted of everything. So they had to sell off their properties at meagre dictated amounts.
However, 14 valuable lives have been lost in Marad. Both incidents were black stains on the secular image and life of Kerala, which is known for her communal harmony.