Attappadi Madhu lynching case: High Court increases sentence, life imprisonment for 12 convicts

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has increased the punishment for the accused in the murder case of tribal youth Madhu, who was lynched in Attappadi after being accused of theft. The court sentenced 12 convicts to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh each, upgrading the seven-year jail term earlier awarded by the trial court while considering an appeal filed by Madhu’s family.

Earlier in the day, the High Court acquitted the first accused, Hussain, stating that there was no evidence proving his involvement in the crime.

Those sentenced to life imprisonment include Marakkar, Shamsudheen, Radhakrishnan, Abubacker, Siddique, Ubaid, Najeeb, Jeyjumon, Sajeev, Satheesh, Harish, and Biju. The High Court also upheld the trial court’s decision to acquit the fourth and eleventh accused. It rejected the plea of the remaining accused seeking suspension of their sentence. The accused have appealed seeking cancellation of the punishment. The trial court had earlier sentenced the 16th accused, Muneer, to three months in jail and a fine of Rs 500. He has already completed his sentence. The court also ordered that Rs 30 lakh be paid as compensation to Madhu’s mother.

Madhu, a 34-year-old tribal man from Attappadi, was brutally assaulted and killed after being accused of stealing rice. He reportedly had mental health issues. The incident took place on February 22, 2018. Madhu was dragged out of the forest, his hands tied behind his back, and paraded naked along the road. He was repeatedly beaten by the mob and later died from the assault.