Date:30/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/30/stories/2008113060370300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Vizhinjam clashes: 83 acquitted

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thiruvananthapuram First Additional Sessions Judge P. Somarajan has acquitted 83 persons accused in the clashes in Vizhinjam in May 1995. Two persons had died and 30 others were injured in the clashes between fisherfolk of two different communities.

In his judgement on Saturday, the judge noted that the 83 persons were being acquitted as the prosecution had failed to prove the charges. Of the 359 witnesses, all except the official witness had turned hostile, the court noted. As many as 95 persons were booked by the police on various charges including murder, conspiracy, rioting and arson. The charge against nine persons is yet to be transferred from the Neyattinkara court. Two of the accused are absconding and one person is dead. The trial in the case commenced in August following the intervention of the High Court.

According to the prosecution, the incident that led to the clashes occurred on May 14, 1995 when around 500 fishermen set ablaze 400 huts and damaged boats and fishing gear belonging to another community. Additional Public Prosecutor S. Vijayakumaran appeared for the prosecution.