Thiruvananthapuram: Two notorious gangsters have been sentenced to death and five others to life-term in the murder of history-sheeter Santosh alias ‘Jet Santosh’ in 2004. Anil Kumar alias ‘Jackie Ani’ and Ajith Kumar alias ‘Ammakoru Makan’ or ‘Soju’ were awarded capital punishment by the Thiruvananthapuram additional sessions judge K.P. Indira here on Tuesday.
A fine of Rs 5 lakh each was also imposed on Anil Kumar alias ‘Jackie Ani’ and Ajith Kumar alias ‘Ammakoru Makan’ or ‘Soju’ for killing history-sheeter San-tosh alias ‘Jet Santosh’. Those awarded life-term were Binukumar alias 'Pravu Binu', Suresh Kumar alias 'Sura', Shaji alias 'Kochu Shaji', Biju Kutan and C.L. Kishore.
A fine of Rs 4.75 lakh each was also imposed on them. The court also awarded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to themother of the deceased Santosh, Yesodha.
Gang rivalry and personal feuds were the provocation for the brutal murder that took place on November 23, 2004. Santosh allegedly had an illicit affair with accused Suresh Kumar's wife. This apart, Santosh had parted with their gang and joined a rival gang.
The prosecution case was that as per a conspiracy hatched at Suresh's house, the gang attacked Santosh at a barber shop at Karamana and forcibly took him to a Kurisamuttom cemetery in a car and continued the attack. Santosh suffered more than 25 hack injuries. The gang threatened an autorickshaw driver who passed by and asked him to take Santosh to hospital. But he died on the way.
Though some of the key witnesses in the case turned hostile during the trial, the
prosecution could prove the case with scientific evidence. The court also appreciated additional public prosecutor Suresh Chandrakumar who appeared for prosecution in the case.
