Kozhikode: 17 accused in Shibin murder case acquitted

Kozhikode: The Special Additional sessions court (Marad Cases) here on Wednesday let off 17 of the 18 defendants in the sensational Shibin murder case as the prosecution failed to prove the crime against them.

DYFI worker C.K. Shibin, 19, was hacked to death on January 22, 2015, at Vellore, Thuneri, in Nadapuram, allegedly by IUML workers.

“The prosecution has failed to prove that political and communal reasons triggered the murder. Police was informed only on the next day though CPM workers were present on the crime spot,” judge S. Krishnakumar said in his verdict.

The court held that the prosecution also failed to convince how the six friends of Shibin got injured and to produce neutral eyewitnesses.

Those acquitted include IUML workers Theyyampattil Ismail, 29, and his brother Theyyampattil Muneer, 31, the first and second accused respectively, who had several cases of criminal antecedents. The previous LDF government had included Mr Ismail on the Goonda list.

According to the prosecution, the armed gang of accused 1 to 11 murdered Shibin while the rest provided support. The case of the minor among them is pending before a juvenile court.

Following the murder, Thuneri witnessed a series of riots and looting with more than 50 Muslim houses being attacked and properties worth crores of rupees destroyed.

Shibin’s father Bhaskaran said the verdict favoured the perpetrators. The CPM has decided to move the HC against the acquittal.