Alappuzha, India: Increased security measures have been implemented for Mavelikkara Additional District Session Court-I Judge V G Sreedevi by the state police. This decision comes after she handed down death sentences to 15 PFI-SDPI workers involved in the 2021 murder of BJP OBC Morcha State Secretary Ranjeet Sreenivas.
According to a senior police official, the decision to enhance security was made in response to perceived threats conveyed through social media channels. The security detail for Judge Sreedevi now consists of a six-member team led by a sub-inspector to ensure her safety.
In light of the recent verdict, a second set of charges is expected to be filed, listing the names of the remaining 15 accused, including those implicated in abetting the murder and aiding in the destruction of evidence.
Judge Sreedevi, deeming the case as falling within the category of the “rarest of rare,” handed down capital punishment to 15 individuals involved in the murder.
The verdict announcement prompted the fortification of the entire court premises with security measures, due to reports suggesting unease among PFI-SDPI cadres regarding the outcome.
Additionally, the trial for the killing of SDPI State Secretary K S Shan, which is considered the trigger for Ranjeet’s murder, is scheduled to commence on February 2. Shan was assaulted by assailants and succumbed to his injuries, which led to a series of retaliatory attacks, including the murder of Ranjeet.
The police have also filed chargesheets against individuals associated with RSS/BJP in the Shan murder case, although court proceedings have yet to gain momentum. This has led to accusations of bias against the state government by the SDPI leadership and Shan’s family.
Separately, the police have filed a chargesheet against 40 SDPI-associated individuals in connection with the murder of an RSS worker, but the trial is also facing delays. The ongoing dispute between RSS and SDPI workers led to violence and the subsequent deaths of Nandukrishna and serious injuries to another RSS worker.
As these cases continue to unfold, security concerns for the judge and the slow progress of court proceedings raise questions about impartiality and the administration of justice in the region.