Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod

Kasargod, Apr 14: Three persons including two CPM workers who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder of Youth Congress leader Abdul Jabbar of Perla have been acquitted by the Kerala high court.

The acquitted are CPM Kumble zone secretary Sudhakar Master, Enmakaje regional committee member Nadubail Abdulla Kunhi and Paivalike resident Yashwanth Kumar.

The divisional bench of the high court upheld life sentences of Moidin Kunhi of Ukkinadka, Ravi, Abdul Bashir and Mahesh of Pachambala who were four other convicts in the case.

Abdul Jabbar

Abdulla Kunhi and Sudhakar Master

Among them, Ravi is in Viyyur central jail and the remaining three are in Chimeni prison.

The CBI had identified twelve accused in the case. Two persons had turned approvers and five persons were let off by the court. The court in 2012 had sentenced the remaining seven to life imprisonment. Therefore, they have been serving imprisonment for the last seven years. No bail was granted despite appeals.

Jabbar was waylaid when he was travelling in a car at Elkana, Ukkinadka, Perla at about 10.30 pm on November 3, 2009. He was ambushed and killed in cold blood. The high court considered a petition by Jabbar’s father Hassainar stating that the investigation by Badiadka police who had registered a case of murder was not satisfactory and that the accused were being protected due to political pressure, and had ordered CBI probe into the case.

CBI which took up the investigations arrested Sudhakar, Abdulla Kunhi, Bashir and several others. The CBI registered a case that Sudhaker and Bashir had hatched a conspiracy for murder and necessary money was provided by Nadubail Abdul Kunhi. CBI investigations revealed that Jabbar was slain by hired killers due to political rivalry.