Kottayam: A court here on Tuesday awarded double life imprisonment to 10 people for the honour killing of a 23-year-old Dalit Christian man last year, which had triggered widespread protests across the state.
The Principal Sessions Court on August 22 had observed that the murder of Kevin P Joseph, involving his wife’s relatives, was a case of honour killing.
All the 10 accused who were found guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 302 (murder), 364A (kidnapping for ransom) and Section 506 (2) (Punishment for criminal intimidation) have been awarded double life term in the case, Special Public Prosecutor C S Ajayan told reporters here.
Three people including prime accused Syaanu Chacko, Kevin’s brother-in-law, were also convicted under IPC Section 120 (b) (Criminal conspiracy).
There were 14 accused in the case.
Four people including Kevin’s father-in-law Chacko were acquitted for want of evidence.
The death of Kevin, who was abducted along with a relative from Mannanam in the district, had sparked protests in the state.
The victim’s kin had alleged that he died due to police laxity as they refused to conduct an investigation on the basis of his wife’s complaint.
Kevin’s body was found on May 28 last year in a stream in Chaliyakkara in Kollam district.
The couple had married at a registrar’s office in Ettumanoor against the wishes of her family.
Also read: Pakistanis happily convert girls to Islam but love marriage faces honour killing axe
How is Kevin P. Joseph a “dalit”? Not quite possible. Only Hindus are categorised as Scheduled Castes. Why was SC/ST Atrocities Act not imposed?
LBSNAA is at Mussorie, has it been shifted to Shimla?
How Christian can be a dalit as sc is part if hindu religion . Its mockery of the constitution if dalit changes religion and become christen still remain SC . Taking minority status as well as SC status . Once SC changes religion he should remain SC .