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Kevin Joseph Honour Killing Case: all 10 convicts sentenced to double life-term

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Kevin Joseph Honour Killing Case: all 10 convicts sentenced to double life-term

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A court in Kerala on Tuesday (August 27) awarded double life imprisonment to all 10 convicts in the case of honour killing of a Dalit Christian youth, Kevin P Joseph (24), by his wife’s upper-caste Christian family in Kottayam last year. Principal sessions judge C Jayachandran pronounced the quantum of punishment. 

All the accused – Shanu, Niyas Mon (Chinnu), Ishan Ismail, Riyas Ibrahimkutty, Manu Muraleedhara, Shifin Sijad, N Nishad, Tittu Jerome, Fasil Sherif and Shanu Shajahan – will have to serve two life terms on two charges: IPC section 364 A (kidnap and threat to kill) and Section 302 (murder).

The principal session court also imposed a fine of Rs 40,000 each on all the 10 persons convicted.

The judge said that out of the total amount collected, Rs 1 lakh would be given to Kevin’s cousin, Aneesh Sebastian, the prime witness in the case. Aneesh’s house was vandalized by the convicts while they kidnapped the duo. The rest of the money will be equally divided between Neenu and Kevin’s father, Joseph. 

The court said if they fail to pay the fine, the amount should be realized by selling off the three vehicles used by the convicts to abduct Kevin and Aneesh. 

Also Read: First woman IAF Officer to become Flight Commander: Shaliza Dhami

The victim’s father, Joseph expressed his views regarding the verdict to media personnel.  

“The court has awarded double life imprisonment. I can’t say I’m happy but it’s a deserving punishment for the accused. I think the court has desisted from the death sentence taking into account the accused’s ages. Chacko (Neenu’s father) is still outside. He should have been imprisoned as well. I will appeal to the higher courts against Chacko. He is the main man in the case. I want to thank the police officers who worked relentlessly to investigate the case especially SP Harishankar. More than me, they worked day and night to go after the accused. I haven’t spoken to Neenu. She is studying. Let her study. She has also suffered a lot especially testifying against her father and brother,” he said. 

On August 22, Judge C Jayachandran convicted 10 persons out of the 14 accused under charges of murder (Section 302), kidnapping (Section 364 A), criminal conspiracy (Section 120 B), house-trespass (Section 449), voluntarily causing hurt (Section 321), wrongful confinement (Section 342) and criminal intimidation (Section 506-2).

The court however, acquitted Neenu’s father Chacko and three others in the case for want of evidence. 

Kottayam SP Harishankar told reporters that the verdict was ‘satisfying’ and that it was challenging task for the police to prove the murder with just circumstantial evidence. “When there are multiple accused, proving the charge of conspiracy is also a difficult task,” he said.

On May 24, 2018, Kevin married Neenu Chacko (20) at a civil ceremony in Kottayam against the wishes of Neenu’s family on account of his caste. Two days later, Kevin and his cousin, Aneesh were abducted from his house by a gang. While Aneesh was released by the gang, Kevin’s body was fished out of a canal near Thenmala in Kollam district. The autopsy reports confirmed that Kevin was forcibly made to drown in the canal. 

The victim’s family reported that the local police refused to file a complaint late Sunday night despite repeated pleas by Neenu and Kevin’s family.

Also Read: Local authorities ban sale of bananas at Charbagh Railway station

During the trial, Kevin’s wife Neenu Chacko, 21, had told the court that her father Chacko, an upper-caste Christian hailing from Kollam, had threatened her and Kevin over their relationship. Since the murder, Neenu, a student, has been staying with Kevin’s family.

Kevin’s ‘honour killing’, a first of its kind in Kerala, had triggered widespread protests across the state last year with a large section of Dalit organisations as well as the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) up in arms against the inaction of the police and the involvement of a few Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leaders in the case. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Delhi elections: While voting, remember who is responsible for polluted air, dirty water, broken roads, says Rahul Gandhi

With around 1.56 crore registered voters, this election is under close scrutiny, as it has the potential to shape Delhi’s governance moving forward.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday appealed to the Delhi voters to cast their votes responsibly and said that while voting, remember who is responsible for polluted air, dirty water, and broken roads in the capital.

As voting for the 70 Assembly seats kicked off earlier today, Gandhi took to X and said, “Every vote you give to Congress will protect your rights, strengthen the Constitution and put Delhi back on the path of progress.”

“While voting, remember who is responsible for polluted air, dirty water, broken roads. Who committed the biggest scam in Delhi while talking about doing clean politics?” he added.

Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, running against Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, called on Delhi residents to vote in large numbers to safeguard their rights.

As polling continues until 6 PM, the election is proving to be a tense affair, with the three major parties—AAP, BJP, and Congress—making their cases for leadership in the national capital.

Earlier in the day, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal urged Delhi voters to recognize the crucial role of their votes in determining the city’s future. He stated, “Hooliganism will lose, and Delhi will win.”

In a message shared on X, Kejriwal emphasized, “Your vote is more than just a button; it is the cornerstone of a bright future for your children. It provides an opportunity for good schools, excellent healthcare, and a dignified life for every family.” His appeal coincided with the start of voting for the Delhi assembly elections.

With around 1.56 crore registered voters, this election is under close scrutiny, as it has the potential to shape Delhi’s governance moving forward.

In his appeal, Kejriwal stressed the moral and political importance of the election, urging citizens to favour “truth, development, and honesty” instead of “politics of lies, hatred, and fear.” He encouraged voters not only to cast their own votes but also to motivate friends, family, and neighbours to do the same.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi joined in the call for voter engagement, characterizing the election as a struggle between good and evil. “This is a contest between hard work and hooliganism,” she stated, motivating citizens to vote for progress and “goodness.”

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva also appealed to voters, asking them to support his party’s vision of a “clean, well-governed, and prosperous” Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He urged citizens to vote for the BJP’s lotus symbol, highlighting the need to bolster the “double-engine government” for Delhi’s future development.

Polling is taking place at 13,766 stations across Delhi’s 70 assembly constituencies, determining the fate of 699 candidates, with results set to be announced on February 8.

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India News

Hooliganism will lose, Delhi will win: Arvind Kejriwal

With around 1.56 crore registered voters, this election is under close scrutiny, as it has the potential to shape Delhi’s governance moving forward.

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On Wednesday, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal urged Delhi voters to recognize the crucial role of their votes in determining the city’s future. He stated, “Hooliganism will lose, and Delhi will win.”

In a message shared on X, Kejriwal emphasized, “Your vote is more than just a button; it is the cornerstone of a bright future for your children. It provides an opportunity for good schools, excellent healthcare, and a dignified life for every family.” His appeal coincided with the start of voting for the Delhi assembly elections.

With around 1.56 crore registered voters, this election is under close scrutiny, as it has the potential to shape Delhi’s governance moving forward.

In his appeal, Kejriwal stressed the moral and political importance of the election, urging citizens to favour “truth, development, and honesty” instead of “politics of lies, hatred, and fear.” He encouraged voters not only to cast their own votes but also to motivate friends, family, and neighbours to do the same.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi joined in the call for voter engagement, characterizing the election as a struggle between good and evil. “This is a contest between hard work and hooliganism,” she stated, motivating citizens to vote for progress and “goodness.”

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva also appealed to voters, asking them to support his party’s vision of a “clean, well-governed, and prosperous” Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He urged citizens to vote for the BJP’s lotus symbol, highlighting the need to bolster the “double-engine government” for Delhi’s future development.

Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, running against Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, called on Delhi residents to vote in large numbers to safeguard their rights.

As polling continues until 6 PM, the election is proving to be a tense affair, with the three major parties—AAP, BJP, and Congress—making their cases for leadership in the national capital.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X to say, “Every vote for Congress will protect your rights, strengthen the Constitution, and set Delhi back on the path of progress.” He added, “While voting, remember who is accountable for polluted air, dirty water, and broken roads. Who perpetrated the biggest scam in Delhi while claiming to advocate clean politics?”

Polling is taking place at 13,766 stations across Delhi’s 70 assembly constituencies, determining the fate of 699 candidates, with results set to be announced on February 8.

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India News

Delhi elections: President Murmu, Rahul Gandhi, CM Atishi cast votes

Polling began at 7 a.m. across 13,766 stations in the national capital, with 1.56 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 699 candidates contesting across 70 assembly constituencies.

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Voting for the Delhi Assembly elections commenced on Wednesday, with prominent political leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Union Ministers S. Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, among the early voters.

Polling began at 7 a.m. across 13,766 stations in the national capital, with 1.56 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 699 candidates contesting across 70 assembly constituencies.

Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, and Chief Electoral Officer R. Alice Vaz were also among the early voters.

After casting his vote, LG Saxena described the election as a “festival of democracy” and urged all Delhi residents to participate actively. “Today is a day of duty, not a holiday,” he emphasized.

Union Minister S. Jaishankar, who voted early, remarked, “I have always been an early voter, a Delhi voter. The people are in a mood of change.”

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, the AAP candidate from Kalkaji, visited the Kalkaji temple to offer prayers before casting her vote. She framed the election as a “battle between good and evil, between work and hooliganism.”

Manish Sisodia, AAP candidate from Jangpura, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “I have cast my vote for a better Delhi and for a better life for its people. I appeal to voters to support better education, healthcare, and other essential facilities.”

The Delhi Assembly election witnessed a triangular contest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress. While the AAP is aiming for a third consecutive term, the BJP and Congress are striving to regain their foothold in the capital.

Prominent candidates, including AAP’s Greater Kailash nominee Saurabh Bharadwaj, BJP’s Karawal Nagar candidate Kapil Mishra, and Congress’ New Delhi candidate Sandeep Dikshit, were among those who exercised their franchise early in the day.

With polling underway across the city, authorities have ensured tight security and smooth arrangements at all voting stations. The election results are scheduled to be announced on February 8, 2024.

As Delhiites turn out in large numbers to cast their votes, the election is being seen as a crucial test for the political parties vying for control of the capital. The outcome will not only shape Delhi’s future but also set the tone for the upcoming national elections.

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