The Hindu : Marad: all cases to go to new court in a week

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 11, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Marad: all cases to go to new court in a week

KOZHIKODE, JAN. 10. All cases related to the January 2002 communal riots and the May 2 massacre at Marad will be committed to the newly inaugurated Judicial First Class Magistrate's Court (VI) and Additional Sessions Court at Eranhipalam within a week.

Official sources told here today that the first class offences in both these incidents filed at the Kozhikode First Class Judicial Magistrate's Court (V) would be transferred to the Judicial First Class Magistrate's Court (VI) and other criminal cases filed at the Kozhikode Sessions Court Division would be tried at the Additional Sessions Court.

Cases that have filed in connection with the January 2002 riots and May 2 massacre at the courts would be transferred in a phase manner. The trial of the cases will be on a priority basis. P. K. Haridas had already been appointed special prosecutor to conduct the trial, sources added.

Separate chargesheets had been filed against nearly 877 accused involved in 102 cases in the January 2002 riots. Only 392 persons were involved in the cases but many are included in more than one case in the communal clashes in January 3 and 4, 2002. The accused have been chargesheeted under section 153 (A) of the Indian Penal Code and section 107 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Fives cases under section 302 IPC (murder), seven cases under section 307 PIC (attempt to murder), 56 under section 436 IPC (arson and looting), 11 cases for mischief using fire, 21 for rioting and six under Section 188 IPC for violating propitiatory orders and six under Section 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code have also been filed against the accused.

The riots between Hindus and Muslims at Marad had claimed five lives including that of Shimjith, Kunjumon Narayanan, Yunus and Kunhikoya on January 3.

Another victim, Abu Baker was killed the next morning. About 25 persons including women and children had been admitted to various hospitals, including the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH), for treating injuries. Eighty houses belonging to both the communities were destroyed in the arson and looting. Twenty-one houses were completely gutted and 42 partially damaged in the fire. Two country boats, seven fibre boats and a fishing boat were set ablaze. The total loss has been estimated at Rs 1.58 crores.

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