The lynching of Madhu, a 27-year-old tribal man from Chindakki hamlet in Attappady, remains one of the darkest stains on Kerala’s human rights record. More than eight years after the brutal mob killing on February 22, 2018, the case continues to prick the conscience of the State.

Madhu’s lynching over allegations of stealing food had triggered outrage across the country and exposed the vulnerability of tribal communities to mob violence and systemic discrimination.

Madhu, son of Mallan and Malli, was a poor, mentally challenged tribal youth, who had studied up to Class VII. The youth, who lived in isolation in a cave inside the Attappady forest, was accused of stealing rice and groceries from shops at nearby Mukkali junction.

According to the prosecution, a man collecting firewood spotted Madhu in the cave and alerted local people. A group then entered the forest, dragged him out, tied his hands with a lungi, placed a sack on his head and forced him to walk nearly four kilometres to Mukkali.

Case records say Madhu was brutally beaten during the march and again at the junction, where he was publicly humiliated and interrogated. Images and videos of the assault, including selfies taken by members of the mob with the injured youth, were widely circulated on social media, shocking the country. He was later handed over to the police but died while being taken to Agali police station.

The prosecution said he died of internal injuries sustained in the assault. The post-mortem examination found extensive trauma, including fatal injuries to the back of the head, fractured ribs and 42 wounds on his body.

16 accused

Sixteen persons were arraigned as accused in the case. On May 22, 2018, the Special Investigation Team filed a 3,000-page chargesheet before the SC/ST Special Court at Mannarkkad, charging them with murder and invoking provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

All 16 accused were granted bail by the High Court on May 31, 2018. The trial began only four years later after the High Court intervened over delays. Hearing started before the Mannarkkad court on January 25, 2022. Of the 124 witnesses listed, the prosecution examined 103 and the defence, eight. While 77 supported the prosecution, 24 turned hostile during the trial.

Madhu’s mother and sister later approached the government seeking stronger prosecution, leading to the appointment of Rajesh M. Menon as special prosecutor. His intervention proved pivotal to the case. The prosecution implemented the Witness Protection Scheme, which exposed alleged links between some accused and witnesses. The court then cancelled the bail of the accused to curb intimidation and prevent further witnesses from turning hostile.

Trial court verdict

The Mannarkkad court found 14 of the 16 accused guilty and acquitted two. Thirteen were convicted under Section 304 (II) of the IPC for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while one was convicted under Section 352 for assault. On April 5, 2023, the court sentenced the 13 convicts to seven years of rigorous imprisonment.

While the convicts challenged the verdict in the High Court, Madhu’s mother and sister also sought harsher punishment. The High Court on Monday acquitted the first accused, Mecheri Hussain of Pakkulam in Thavalam, while upholding the trial court verdict against the remaining accused.