IDUKKI: Police probing the murder of SFI activist Dheeraj Rajendran included the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the accused and shifted the case to the district court at Muttom.
According to Idukki circle inspector Jayan B, one of the injured SFI (Students Federation of India) activists belongs to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes community and so these charges were invoked.
Meanwhile, the court postponed considering the custody application of the accused. Police sought 10-day custody to recover the weapon used in the crime. “The prime accused Nikhil Paily confessed that he committed the crime and threw away the weapon. We need to recover the weapon and it is very important for the case. After getting the accused in custody we will recover the weapon,” said the officer.
Rajendran, a Kannur resident and an SFI activist at Idukki Government Engineering College, Painavu, was stabbed to death during clashes between Youth Congress and SFI activists in connection last Monday during college union elections. Two other students — Thrissur resident Abhijith T Sunil and Kollam resident AS Amal — were injured in the clash.
Five people, including two main accused, have been arrested in connection with the case, said police. The arrested are Vazhathope Youth Congress mandalam president Nikhil Paily, 31, Idukki mandalam vice-president Jerin Jojo, 22, KSU district secretary Jithin Uppumakkal, 24, and KSU block president Tony Thekkilakkadan, 24. KSU activist Jesin Joy, 21, was also arrested for helping the accused to abscond.
Two other accused, Youth Congress activists Nithin Lukose and Soyimon Sunny, are still absconding, police said.
