Seven eyewitnesses examined as Abhimanyu murder trial moves forward

The prosecution finished examining seven eyewitnesses on October 17 in the Abhimanyu murder trial at Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court. The defence is slated to cross‑examine them on October 22. For the third day in a row, all 16 accused entered the courtroom in identical white shirts, dhotis, caps and masks, which were removed once inside. Four witnesses spoke on Saturday, followed by three more later, making a total of seven. They said the accused disrupted freshers‑reception preparations and turned violent after a dispute over graffiti painted by the Campus Front, the student wing of the Popular Front of India, on a wall reserved for the Students Federation of India. The clash led to the fatal stabbing of Abhimanyu and injuries to others. Witnesses noted the accused had altered their look – matching hairstyles, no beards – making identification hard, though the fourth witness identified all 16 and the later witnesses pointed out the key perpetrators. Special Public Prosecutor G. Mohanraj presented photos of the white‑washed wall and the Campus Front graffiti, as well as images of Abhimanyu’s clothing and the blunt object used. The trial, which began on October 15, follows a Kerala High Court order to finish within four months; all 156 witnesses are to be examined by November 12.

Context

The case reflects ongoing tension between student political groups on Indian college campuses. Such graffiti disputes often spark larger clashes because they involve symbols claimed by rival organisations. The court schedule aims to deliver a swift resolution as demanded by the victim’s mother, Bhoopathy.