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Kerala Court Sentences Eight CPM Members to Life Imprisonment for 2005 Murder of BJP Worker

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On Monday, the Thalassery District Sessions Court in Kerala’s Kannur sentenced eight members of the CPI-M to life imprisonment for the 2005 murder of BJP worker Elambilayi Sooraj from Muzhappilangad. Among those sentenced is PM Manoraj, the brother of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s press secretary. Additionally, another CPI-M member received a sentence of three years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with the case.

The individuals sentenced to life imprisonment include TK Rajeesh, who is already serving a life sentence for the 2012 murder of rebel CPI-M leader TP Chandrasekharan, and others: PM Manoraj, NV Yogesh, K Shamjith, Neyyoth Sajeevan, Prabhakaran, KV Padmanabhan, and Manombeth Radhakrishnan. The court’s ruling, delivered by Sessions Court Judge KT Nisar Ahammed, also imposed a three-year prison sentence on the 11th accused, Pradeepan.

Among the life-sentenced individuals, Prabhakaran had previously served as a local secretary of the CPI-M and was the former president of the Edakkad panchayat, while KV Padmanabhan and Manombeth Radhakrishnan were members of the CPI-M local committee.

Earlier on Friday, the court had found nine members of the CPI-M guilty of Sooraj’s murder that took place in 2005. A tenth accused was acquitted due to insufficient evidence, and two other defendants, P.K. Shamsudheen and TP Raveendran, passed away during the trial.

The murder occurred on the morning of August 7, 2005, in Muzhappilangad, a region dominated by the CPI-M. Sooraj, 32, was brutally assaulted due to political rivalry after he switched his support from the CPI-M to the BJP. Before launching their attack with knives and swords, the assailants detonated a country bomb to create chaos and disperse any bystanders. After ensuring his death, they fled the scene.

Previously, in February 2005, CPI-M workers had assaulted Sooraj, leaving him incapacitated with a leg injury. After recovering, Sooraj became the target once again, culminating in his tragic murder.

The charge sheet reveals that on August 5, 2005, five of the accused plotted to kill Sooraj. The document states that on August 7, six of them arrived in an autorickshaw, assembled unlawfully, and attacked Sooraj with lethal weapons. It details that Sooraj attempted to flee but collapsed on the ground, where NV Yogesh struck him with a sword and Rajeesh hit him with an axe.

Although the trial commenced in 2010, it faced delays until a significant development occurred in 2012. This breakthrough came when TK Rajeesh, who was implicated in the murder of RMP leader TP Chandrasekharan, was arrested. During interrogation, he confessed to involvement in several political murders, including that of Sooraj. Following this admission, the Kerala High Court instructed the police to reopen the case, ultimately leading to the convictions.

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MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

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New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.

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8 Patients Dead In Jaipur Hospital Fire

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Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.

Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.

Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.

Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.

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75-Year-Old Man Marries 35-Year-Old, Dies Before Honeymoon

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Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.

The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.

The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”

However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.

Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.

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