Kochi: The Ernakulam District and Principal sessions Court on Monday decided to conduct in-camera trail in the case relating to murder of a dalit woman in Perumbavoor. Initiating the trail proceedings, Judge N Anilkumar asked whether the trail proceedings should be carried out in - camera since a police investigation had confirmed a rape of the victim. While special prosecutor N.K. Unnikrishnan supported the move, B.A. Aloor, counsel of the accused, raised objections and demanded an open court trail. The court, however, eventually decided to conduct the proceedings in-camera with a view to protect the privacy of the victim as well as the witnesses.
Meanwhile, the court examined P.K. Anas, an elected member of Rayamangalam Grampanchayath, the first among the 195 witnesses in the case. The court is slated to witness the victim's mother on Tuesday and scheduled to examine 19 other witnesses till April 5. As per the charge sheet, Ameerul Islam is the lone accused in the case and a police investigation found him guilty of various offences including house-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death (IPC 449), wrongful confinement (IPC 342), rape and murder.
Besides, he has been also booked for destroying evidences, section 3(1) a & 3(2)(V)of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities)Act 1989 as amended by the SC/ST (POA) Amendment act 201. The charge sheet, which runs over 1,300 pages, also comprised 125 documentary and 75 material evidences. It also entails secret statements of two witnesses, recorded under section 164 of CrPC. Terming Ameerul as a sexual pervert, it explains sexual gratification as the lone motive behind the brutal killing.
