Kerala HC upholds acquittal of SFI workers in Parumala case

Kochi, June 13 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today upheld the acquittal of 18 SFI workers arrayed as accused in the Parumala College incident.

A division bench comprising Justice J B Koshy and Justice M Sasidharan Nambiar dismissed the appeal filed by the state government and the revision petition by the parents of the deceased ABVP workers, challenging the judgement of the Pathanamthitta Additional Sessions Court.

On June 17, 1996, following a dispute between SFI and ABVP workers, some ABVP workers jumped into the Pampa river in order to escape from an attack by the SFI-DYFI activists. Three of the ABVP workers-- Kom Karunakaran, Anup and Sujith -- drowned in the river.

It was alleged that their death was caused by SFI workers by pelting stones in order to obstruct them from swimming. Police arraigned 18 SFI workers including Krishnakumar, Rajan Varghese etc in the case, alleging offences including murder.

On June 28, 2000, the sessions court acquitted all of them holding that prosecution was not able to prove the guilt of the accused. Confirming the judgement, the high court said that there was no reason to interfere in the finding of the lower court.

UNI XR ARC AD/VS1931