Kerala rape and murder case: Chargesheet on Ameerul Islam on September 17

Kochi: The police team probing the Perumbavur rape and murder case will file the chargesheet against Ameerul Islam, the sole accused in the case, on September 17. Sources confirmed that the prosecution team had finalised the chargesheet, which will be filed by Mr N.K. Unnikrishnan, public prosecutor in the rape and murder case. The mandatory 90 days set for submitting the chargesheet expires on September 12, but owing to the Onam holidays, the cops can file it the next working day.

The mother and sister of the victim, Jisha, had identified her belongings, including the books and dress recovered by the cops from the makeshift house on the banks of a canal. The police had earlier submitted before the trial court that Ameerul Islam’s motive was to sexually abuse the girl and satisfy his “uncontrolled libido.” The cops had substantiated Ameerul's motive by incorporating section 376 A (punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim).

Section 376 A of IPC reads, “the person committing an offence of rape and inflicting injury which causes death or causes the woman to be in a persistent vegetative state.” If convicted, the accused will get rigorous imprisonment for 20 years, imprisonment for natural life or death. Ameerul, 23, was arrested on June 16 after he evaded arrest for nearly 50 days. Ameerul, hailing from Assam's Nagaon district, was taken into custody from Tamil Nadu. He had left Perumbavoor soon after committing the crime on April 28, the police said. They had questioned over 1,500 people, collected the finger prints of more than 5,000 and intercepted over 20 lakh telephonic conversations.