TPC?verdict today, Kozikode under tight police vigil

Kozhikode: The police has mounted tight vigil, deploying about 600 police personnel in the city and guards at the residence of additional district and sessions judge R Narayana Pisharody, who delivers the verdict in the sensational T.P. Chandrasekharan murder case at 11 am on Wednesday.

On Tuesday evening, the police initiated raids at hotels and lodges in the city and suburbs, targeting potential troublemakers.

Cops took up positions at the railway station, bus stands and busy places like Palayam Market and SM Street. The police ban orders also came into force.

City Commissioner G. Sparjan Kumar told DC there was a general alert on trouble spots and the force was fully geared up to meet any eventuality.

Traffic near the special court area at Eranhipalam would be diverted from 9.30 am on Wednesday and the court, the prison and the route would be under additional security. The security given to the investigation officers stays and would be stepped up if needed.

In all, 36 persons faced grave charges for the conspiracy and the murder of prominent CPM dissident and RMP leader T.P. Chandrasekharan on May 4, 2012 in Onchiyam. The trial lasted 365 days. The special investigation team was led by ADGP (crime branch) Vinson M. Paul.

Prominent on trial are 14th accused and CPM district secretariat member P. Mohanan Master, area committee members P.K. Kunhananthan and K.K. Krishnan and local committee members K.C. Ramachandran and Padyankandi Raveendran.

According to the prosecution, the killer gang comprised M.C. Anoop, Kirmani Manoj, Kodi Suni, T.K. Rajish, K.K. Mohammed Shafi, S. Sijith and K. Shinoj.    

During trial, the court let off 40 put of the original 76 accused for want of evidence. The charge sheet was submitted on August 13, 2012.

The court examined TPC’s wife K.K. Rema and son Abhinand besides circle inspector V.V. Benny, deputy superintendent of police A.P. Shoukathali, DySP Jossy Cherian and DySP K.V. Santhosh, all associated with the probe.

Of the 166 prosecution witnesses, 52 switched sides in favour of the accused. The police had collected details of 20 lakh telephone calls, opening a new chapter in cyber investigation in the State. 

Apart from officers of BSNL, the court also examined nodal officers of private telephone operators including Vodafone, Airtel and Tata Docomo.

Another milestone in the case is the ‘Facebook’ controversy which hit headlines in December last.

The murder accused freely used high-tech mobile phones and posted photographs taken from the prison on Facebook.