Kerala: Mob thrashes man acquitted in Walayar rape-murder case

Madhu told police he had been threatened by neighbours previously

C Madhu manorama C. Madhu being taken to hospital | Via Manorama Online

The public anger against incidents of rape and violence against women has spread to Kerala. A man who was one of the accused in the rape and murder of two minor girls in Walayar in Palakkad in 2017 was beaten up by a mob on Saturday following an argument, Manorama reported.

C. Madhu was attacked at Attappallam near Palakkad and admitted to a hospital in Palakkad. Madhu told police he had been threatened by neighbours previously. His injuries are not life threatening. His mother told mediapersons she suspected "political rivals" were behind the attack.

C. Madhu was one of four people acquitted by a sessions court in Palakkad in October in the case of rape and murder of two sisters in separate incidents in 2017. The court had discharged the accused on the grounds there was no evidence to prove that the deaths were acts of homicide.

The acquittal triggered anger in Kerala and criticism of the ruling CPI(M) and police, who were blamed for sloppy investigation. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced in November that the special prosecutor in the case had been removed. The Vijayan government also petitioned the Kerala High Court to reopen the Walayar case.

A media outlet reported that even Madhu's brother believed he had molested the children and was guilty of the crimes.

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