An SC/ST court in Kerala on Tuesday found 14 of the 16 accused guilty in a case of mob lynching that led to the death of a mentally unstable and unemployed tribal man whom they had accused of stealing groceries from a shop at Attappadi in Palakkad district five years ago.

The court acquitted two of the accused. Of the 14 convicted, 13 have been found guilty of culpable homicide. The 14th is guilty of assault (IPC Section 352), punishable with up to three months in jail.

Special public prosecutor Rajesh Menon, who overcame several challenges including 24 witnesses turning hostile, expressed satisfaction at the verdict. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on Wednesday.

He said the court did not find sufficient evidence to prove the IPC 302 (murder) charge slapped on all the accused, but held them guilty of Section 304 (culpable homicide) and other charges.

The accused were found guilty of IPC 326 (voluntarily causing grievous injuries) and 367 (abduction) and offences under the SC/ST Act.

“While the maximum punishment under Sections 304 and 367 is 10 years in jail, Section 326 entails life in jail,” Menon said.

The accused had lynched Madhu, 27, on February 22, 2018, after he allegedly stole some groceries from a local shop. The unemployed man who lived in a cave in the forests of Attappady was brutally assaulted, leaving him with internal injuries.

The mob had made him carry the alleged loot of rice and other essentials on his head, paraded him in Mukkali village and tied his hands with his lungi. Mobile phone footage that the accused shared on social media helped police identify them.