Abhimanyu (Maharajas)

Abhimanyu was a student activist stabbed to death in Maharajas College, Ernakulam on July 2, 2018.[1][2] He was a student of BSc Chemistry. He was murdered by Campus Front of India, the students wing of Islamist organisation Popular Front of India.[3][4]

Abhimanyu
Born(1997-07-23)23 July 1997
Vattavada.
Died2 July 2018(2018-07-02) (aged 20)
Cause of deathAssassinated
Alma materMaharaja's College, Ernakulam
OrganizationStudents Federation of India

Abhimanyu was the youngest son of Manoharan and Bhoopathy two Tamil peasants from an Adivasi community in Vattavada.[5] He was born on 23 July 1997. Parijith and Kowsalya are his siblings.[5] His sister Kowsalya married Madhusudanan in a wedding attended by hundreds of students from Maharajas College.[6] Abhimanyu was the Idukki District Committee member of the Students' Federation of India.[7][8]

Death

Abhimanyu was murdered by a 16-member gang involving the activists of the Campus Front of India (CFI), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and the Popular Front of India (PFI).[9] He was just 20 year old at the time of his killing.[10] According to the police reports, the murder was triggered after an argument between Students' Federation of India activists and Campus Front of India (CFI) over sticking posters within the Maharajas campus.[10] The space for painting the college walls was first booked by SFI activists.[11] This led to the issues with CFI members.[11] Abhimanyu painted graffiti on the campus walls to welcome the new batch of students and he wrote "down with communalism".[12][13] This slogan provoked the Campus Front of India (CFI) members.[11] After the verbal argument CFI members returned to campus in the wee hours of July 2, 2018 with SDPI and PFI members and barged into the college hostel.[7] Abhimanyu was held in position from behind and while another person stabbed him to death on the spot. An 19-year-old Arjun, a student of BA Philosophy also sustained severe injuries.[14] He was admitted to the Ernakukulam Medical Trust Hospital and did undergo an emergency surgery.[14]

SFI observed a statewide strike protesting against the killing of their activist on July 2, 2018.[4]

Aftermath
  • In his memory, the Abhimanyu Maharajas Library was set up in Vattavada panchayat.[15] Students across India contributed books over courier.[15] Students mobilised around10,000 books and enough funds for the construction of library.[16]
  • Simon Britto, another student leader who was paralysed after getting stabbed by the members of KSU activists at Maharaja's College on October 14, 1983 wrote a book named "Maharaja's Abhimanyu".[17] The book was published by handing over a copy of it to writer M K Sanu on October 14, 2019.[17]
  • Prominent civil society activists and writers like Sunil P Ilayidom, Balachandran Chullikkad and M K Sanu paid tributes to Abhimanyu's memory in a function organised at Maharajas college on September 19, 2018.[12][18] Writer M.K Sanu drew a parallel between Abhimanyu's murder and the chopping of Professor T J Joseph's hand by religious extremists at Thodupuzha Newman College.[12] Balachandran Chullikad remarked that he was murdered for raising voice against communalism.[19][18]
  • CPI(M) build house for his family.[20] The CPI (M) collected Rs 3.10 crore as ‘Abhimanyu martyr fund’ to help Abhimanyu's family.[21] A student training centre in his name was also initiated in Ernamkulam.
  • The college magazine of Sri Vivekananda Patana Kendram (SVPK) Arts and Science College, Nilambur was named as "Abhimayu".[22] It included a poem dedicated to him and an article on his murder. On July 31, 2018, a group of Campus Front of India (CFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activists entered the college and forcefully burned the College Magazine.[22] Later Edakkara police filed FIR against seven SFI and SDPI activists.[22]
  • Kerala Students Union (KSU) opposed the building of Abhimayu Memorial inside Maharajas College.[23][24] However, the memorial was build by Students Federation of India activists and was unveiled on July 2, 2019.[25][26] This stirred controversy. Kochi Corporation ordered a probe to enquire whether the college had taken permission from the civic body before building the memorial.[25]

Arrests

The Special Investigation Team of Kerala Police charge sheeted against 16 persons at the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II in Ernakulam on September 24, 2018.[27] The case was registered under Sections 142, 148, 323, 324, 307 and 302 read with 149 of the IPC at the Central police station, Ernakulam.[9] Though 30 people are accused in the murder the chargesheet was filed only against those who directly participated in the crime.[10] The following were named in the charge sheet: JI Muhammed (CFI state secretary), Arif Bin Salim (CFI district president), Mohammed Rifa, Jeffrey, Fazaluddin, Anas, Rajeeb, Abdul Rashid Saneesh, Adil Bin Salim, Bilal, Riyaz Hussain, Saneesh, Sharukh Amani, Abdul Nasser and Anup.[28][10] After the murder police arrested around 20 people in the immediate days.[10] However, the main accused Sahal Hamsa went into hiding for more than 2 years.[29][30][31] Sahal who was staying at a hideout in Karnataka surrendered on 18 June 2020.[9][32][33][34] According to Kerala Police, Sahal was alleged to have stabbed Abhimanyu and Mohammed Shahim was the man who stabbed Arjun.[35][36][9][37] Muhammad Shaheem, the second accused who was also absconding, but surrendered in the court in November 2019.[38][37][39] Shajahan was the one who planned the attack and Shiraz gave all necessary training to CFI workers.[40] Rifa, a state level leader of CFI was arrested when hiding in Bangalore.[41] Manaf, a man who was one of the accused in a case related to chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010 was the 13th accused in Abhimayu Murder case.[42] The police found that the culprits arrived at college hostel armed with lethal weapons to attack maximum student activists.[43] The trial of the Abhimayu case is ongoing in the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court.[37]

References
  1. "Maharaja College murder: Abhimanyu's death robs family of a better future". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  2. "Maharaja's college reopens, but Abhimanyu's class remains empty". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  3. "Abhimanyu murder: Two main accused likely to surrender". OnManorama. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  4. "Islamic students group fatally attacks SFI leader at popular Kochi college". The Week. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  5. "Every memory of him makes my heart heavy: Abhimanyu's brother, a year since the unionist's death". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  6. "Slain Kerala SFI unionist Abhimanyu's sister gets married amidst Maharaja's College students, CPI(M) leaders". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  7. "Killing of Left Student Activist Underlines Need to Keep Religious Fundamentalism Out of Campuses". NewsClick. 2018-07-04. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  8. "Campus murder heats up poll fever at Maharaja's College". Hindustan Times. 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  9. "Key accused in murder of SFI leader Abhimanyu surrenders in Kerala after two years in hiding". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  10. "20-year-old SFI activist stabbed to death inside a Kerala college hostel". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  11. "Spat over booking wall space led to SFI leader's death". OnManorama. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  12. "Glowing tributes paid to late SFI leader Abhimanyu's refulgent memory". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  13. "Abhimanyu's Murder Highlights the Changing Face of Campus Politics in Kerala". The Wire. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  14. ""How is Abhimanyu?" asks Arjun after regaining consciousness". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  15. "Maharaja's College students remember Abhimanyu - the singer, football player and their comrade". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  16. "Maharaja's to give Rs 5 lakh to Abhimanyu's family; many schemes to rekindle his memory". OnManorama. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  17. "Britto's book on Maharaja's and Abhimanyu released". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  18. "Kerala's slain SFI leader Abhimanyu's memories linger as alumni come together". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  19. "Abhimanyu was killed for standing against communalism: Chullikad". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  20. "CPI(M) to build house for Abhimanyu's family". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2018-07-05. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-06-19.CS1 maint: others (link)
  21. "CPM collects Rs 3.10 crore for Abhimanyu fund". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  22. Nijeesh, T.P. (August 1, 2020). "Case registered against SDPI and Campus Front activists for burning 'Abhimanyu' magazine". The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  23. "Row over memorial for Abhimanyu at Maharaja's College". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2019-07-02. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-06-19.CS1 maint: others (link)
  24. "Why a memorial for slain SFI member Abhimanyu is stirring controversy in Kerala". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  25. "Kochi Corporation to find out if Abhimanyu memorial at Maharajas College received nod". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  26. "Kochi: Abhimanyu memorial unveiled". Deccan Chronicle. 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  27. "Abhimanyu murder: Kerala police files chargesheet against 16 persons". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  28. "Chargesheet submitted in Abhimanyu case". The Hindu. 2018-09-25. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  29. "Kerala: Abhimanyu murder accused surrenders". The Times of India. June 19, 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  30. "केरल में एसएफआई नेता की हत्या के मुख्य आरोपी ने आत्मसमर्पण किया". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  31. "Family alleges lapses in Abhimanyu murder case probe". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  32. "Abhimanyu murder case: Prime accused Campus Front activist surrenders after two years". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  33. Emmanuel, Gladwin (June 18, 2020). "Key accused in murder of SFI activist M Abhimanyu surrenders in a court after nearly two years". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  34. "Accused in Abhimanyu murder case surrenders". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2020-06-18. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-06-19.CS1 maint: others (link)
  35. "Campus Front activist who stabbed Abhimanyu surrenders". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  36. "After 2 years in hiding, SDPI worker who allegedly stabbed SFI leader Abhimanyu surrenders". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  37. "2 yrs after Abhimanyu's murder on Kerala campus, key accused surrenders in court". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  38. "Abhimanyu murder case accused surrenders before court". The Hindu. 2019-11-26. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  39. "Abhimanyu murder case: Second accused who had been absconding surrenders in court". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  40. "Abhimanyu murder: Two more Popular Front workers nabbed". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  41. "Abhimanyu killing: key accused Rifa held from Bengaluru". OnManorama. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  42. "Prime accused in murder of Maharaja's College SFI leader Abhimanyu nabbed: Police". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  43. "Abhimanyu murder: Accused targeted serious crimes". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
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