The Kollam Additional Sessions Court on Wednesday sentenced CPI-M worker Sajeev, alias Kali Sajeev, a native of Pattathanam, to life imprisonment for the 1997 murder of RSS leader Pattathanam Santhosh.

The Additional Sessions Judge S Subhas also slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh on him. If the convict fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo an additional one year of imprisonment.

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Earlier on Tuesday, the court found Sajeev guilty of murdering RSS leader Santhosh in 1997. Santhosh was killed on November 24, 1997, allegedly by CPI-M workers. According to the prosecution, CPI-M activists targeted Santhosh in retaliation for the murder of Sunil Kumar, an office-bearer of the DYFI Apsara Junction unit. Sajeev, along with the other accused, attacked Santhosh with a sword, inflicting fatal injuries to his neck and other parts of his body.

Santhosh and his friend Vijayakumar were heading to Chemman Junction on a bicycle. The assailants followed them in an Ambassador car. They hit their bicycle from behind. Sajeev and other assailant then brutally hacked Santhosh to death.