Thalassery: Nine CPM workers were sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment for beating to death a party worker, U Shidhin of Vadakumbat, at Kolassery near Thalassery in Kerala's Kannur district in 2013. Each of the convicts have also been slapped with a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

Additional sessions court judge P N Vinod pronounced the order on Wednesday.

CPM workers Vipin aka Britto, 34; Mikhillal aka Kunjikadappan, 28; M Dheeraj, 28; Dilnesh, 27; C K Nihal, 26; Mithun aka Moidu, 31; Shibin, 26; K Amalkumar, 25; and V K Sojith, 25, were convicted. A group of assailants had brutally assaulted Shidhin with an iron rod near the Ayodhya bus stand at Kavumbagam around 10:30pm on October 4, 2013.

Though Shidhin was admitted to the hospital, he died around 11:25pm.

A minor scuffle led to murder

Britto's gang had an altercation with some youth of Vadakumbat over vehicles’ scraping. After that bakery and houses in the youths’ locality were attacked. Shidhin and friends were on their way to meet the injured at the hospital, when the assailants tried to attack them near Kollassery. Though Shidhin ran for his life, the assailants attacked him near the bus stop. He later died at the hospital. Both the victims and assailants belonged to the CPM.

Statements given by Thalassery traffic SI Chitrasenan turned out to be crucial. Chitrasenan said in court that Shidhin had told him that Britto and gang were behind the attack, before losing consciousness.

Incidentally, Britto, Moidu and V K Sojith are also accused of trying to kill former CPM leader C O T Naseer. These three are still in remand in connection with that case.