Kerala Court Delivers Verdict in 2016 Mankada Moral Policing Murder Case
The Manjeri Additional District and Sessions Court in Kozhikode has delivered a landmark verdict in the 2016 Mankada moral policing murder case, finding five accused guilty for their involvement in the brutal killing of 42-year-old Nazeer Hussain. The court convicted the first five accused after a lengthy trial that began on October 24, 2024.
Those Convicted and Acquitted
The convicted individuals are all natives of Koottil near Mankada:
- Nayakath Abdul Naser, 41
- Sharafudheen, 34 (brother of the first accused)
- Pattikkuth Suhail, 35
- Pattikkuth Abdul Ghafoor, 53
- Pattikkuth Zakkeer Hussain, 44
Judge M Thushar will pronounce the sentence on Friday, determining the punishment for the convicted individuals.
In a separate development, three other accused were acquitted due to insufficient evidence:
- Chennekkunnan Shafeeq, 35
- Mukkilpeedika Parambath Mansoor, 35
- Ambalappally Abdul Naser, 36
The Tragic Incident
The horrific incident occurred in the early hours of June 28, 2016, around 3:30 AM. According to the complaint filed in the case, Nazeer Hussain was visiting the house of a woman in the locality when the accused broke open the door and launched a brutal assault.
The attackers beat Hussain to death using sticks and wooden planks, leaving him unconscious. He later succumbed to his injuries in what authorities determined was a clear case of moral policing turned deadly.
Investigation and Trial Details
The investigation was conducted by then Perinthalmanna Circle Inspectors A M Sidheeq and Saju K Abraham, who built a comprehensive case against the accused. During the trial, the prosecution examined 39 out of 70 witnesses and produced 123 documents along with 22 material exhibits as evidence.
Special Public Prosecutor P G Mathew represented the prosecution throughout the legal proceedings, presenting a compelling case against those responsible for Hussain's death.
Crucial Video Evidence
A particularly damning piece of evidence emerged during the investigation - a mobile phone seized from the first accused, Nayakath Abdul Naser, contained video footage of the brutal assault on Hussain.
Though the accused had attempted to delete the incriminating footage, forensic experts at the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram successfully recovered a 1.3-minute video from the memory card. This video evidence proved crucial in establishing the guilt of the convicted individuals and provided undeniable proof of the violent attack.
The recovery of this video evidence highlights the increasing role of digital forensics in criminal investigations and demonstrates how technology can provide critical evidence even when perpetrators attempt to destroy it.
This verdict represents a significant development in a case that has drawn attention to the dangerous consequences of moral policing and vigilante justice in Kerala. The court's decision sends a strong message about the legal consequences of such violent actions while also highlighting the challenges prosecutors face when evidence is limited against some accused individuals.
