Thrissur: Seven RSS activists were awarded with triple life imprisonments in connection with the murder of CPM worker Shihabudheen of Mullassery. The court pronounced its verdict of imprisonment and fine for murder, conspiracy and brutal attack. The triple life imprisonment, is very rare in court verdicts, and could be served together.

The convicts were identified as Pattali Naveen (26), Panickanveetil Pramod (34), Konthachan Veetil Rahul (28), Mukkolaveetil Vysakh (32), Thekkepattuveetil Subin alias Kannan (31), Konthachan Veetil Biju (38) and Kalappurackal Vijayasankar (23). It was Thrissur fourth additional sessions court judge D R Madhukumar who gave the final verdict in the case.

Convicts have to pay an amount of Rs 10,000 for each of the life imprisonments. Four were acquitted by the court. The allegation against them was that the four helped the convicts buy a car and abscond. However, the court rejected the argument against them.

Mujeeb Rahman, younger brother of Shihabudheen was murdered on 20 January in 2006 by RSS activists. Arackal Vinod, the chief convict in the case and the RSS Karyavahak was murdered in November 2008. Shihabudheen was the main accused in the murder of Vinod.

Shihabudheen was killed on 1 March, 2015. Shihabudheen and his friend, working as painters, went out to buy food and were attacked by a gang who arrived in a car. The incident occurred at 7.30 pm. Shihabudheen was hacked 49 times and succumbed to injuries at a private hospital around 10 pm.

In the case, 65 witnesses were heard and 155 documents and 45 evidences were submitted. The accused were punished under murder, conspiracy, use of deadly weapon and unlawful assembly. K D Babu was the public prosecutor.