By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
The Additional Sessions Court here on Monday awarded double life imprisonment to 11 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activists for the murder of CPM activist Vanchiyur Vishnu. Out of the total 13, one was given single life imprisonment while another person was awarded three years’ imprisonment for helping the accused to escape after the murder.
RSS activists Santhosh, hailing from Kaithamukku, Manoj,Bijukumar from Keraladithyapuram, Ranjithkumar from Manakkad, Balu Mahindra from Malapparikkonam, Vipin and Satheesh Kumar from Anayara, Bose, hailing from Petta, Manikandan from Vattiyurkkavu, Vinod Kumar from Chencheri and Subhash from Sreekaryam were given double life term. Shiavalal from Karikkakam was given single life term while Harilal from Keraladithyapuram was give three years imprisonment. The accused were found guilty on December 16 by the court.
In one of the most controversial clashes between CPM and RSS in Kerala, the 34-year-old Vishnu was hacked to death in front of Regional Passport Office at Kaithamukku in Thiruvananthapuram in broad daylight in April, 2008. The police had arrested 16 RSS activists in connection with the case. The 16th suspect Shyju was acquitted by the court while the third accused Ranjith was murdered before the trial started. The 14th accused Assam Ani is still absconding.