Kochi: The Ernakulam principal sessions court on Friday framed charges against key accused Ameerul Islam in the Jisha rape and murder case. With this, the trial in the sensational case is set to be completed in six months. Principal sessions judge N. Anil Kumar posted the case to November 2 to begin the trial which will conclude on January 23. The court also decided to send notices to the witnesses who include Ameerul's relatives, mother and sister of the victim.
The court also appointed deputy commandant of BSF K. Prasad as the translator for Ameerul. On Friday Mr Prasad explained the court proceedings to Ameerul who rejected all the charges against him and pleaded not guilty. The prosecution team led by Mr N.K. Unnikrishnan slapped section 302 (murder), 376 (rape), 376 A (punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim) on Ameerul. The other charges are under IPC section 449 (house-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death), 342(wrongful confinement), 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence).
He was also charged with section 3(1)(w)(i)and (ii), 3(1)a and 3(2)(V) of Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes(Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Ameerul, 23, hailing from Assam's Nagaon district was arrested on June 16 from Tamil Nadu after he evaded arrest for nearly 50 days. Ameerul left Perumbavoor soon after committing the crime on April 28, the police said.
