KOCHI: As the controversy over the state government decision to withdraw criminal prosecution against those involved in the alleged murder attempt on former Chief Secretary C P Nair rages on, a majority of those involved in the case have been finding it hard to get on with their lives.
One of them, Mohandas Randuthengil, a 47-year-old headload worker from Nalloor, Malayalappuzha, breathed his last on June 13 at a private hospital, several weeks after he collapsed inside the Fast Track Court-III in Patahnamthitta on March 31, 2015. It was the day the court began the trial in the case, a period of 13 years after the incident.
A few who chargesheeted in the case, died of illness during the period. Two others committed suicide after they were released from police custody more than a decade ago. Though Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has flayed the government decision to withdraw the case in which several Congress workers had been chargesheeted, a good many of them belong to CPM families.
“Most of them are poor who find it difficult to make both ends meet. Many turn up in the court skipping their lunch because of the poor financial situation,” said S Shaji, a member of the Malayalappuzha Local committee and an accused in the case.
At least 70 of those who were chargesheeted are either activists or members of the CPM.
Another 30 have political affiliation with the BJP. Congress workers numbered around 20 and the rest had no direct connection with politics, locals said. C P Nair refused to comment. “I have nothing to say. The case is still pending in the court,” Nair told Express.
