Kerala adivasi youth Madhu’s family alleges attempt to influence prime witness in lynching case
India Today
The victim’s family alleged that the defence tried to influence the prime witness by offering Rs 2 lakhs as compensation. They also alleged they were threatened to withdraw the case.
In a major development in the lynching case of adivasi youth Madhu in Kerala’s Attapadi, the victim's sister, Sarasu, alleged that the defence had tried to influence the prime witness by offering them Rs 2 lakh as compensation.
The family further alleged that they were threatened and there was pressure to close the case. Sarasu also said that once, two people came to the house with their faces covered and demanded them to withdraw the case.
The family has decided to approach the High Court to demand CBI investigation in the case as well as to point out the delay in the trial of the case. The public prosecutor for the case will be decided with the help of the action council, Sarasu said.
The incident took place in Kerala in February 2018. Madhu, a 27-year-old who lived in a tribal colony in Attappady forest, was beaten under the suspicion that he was a thief. Madhu died inside the police van while being taken to the police station.
A group of people caught Madhu, who was accused of stealing rice from a nearby store. The mob rounded him up and started questioning him. They stripped Madhu and tied his hands with his own bottom wear.
Madhu was later handed over to the local police and died on the way to the police station. According to local police, Madhu could have been suffering from mental illness.
Also Read: Kerala tribal man lynched on suspicion of rice theft, mob click selfies
