The brief note, purportedly written by Abhimanyu, a graduate student who was fatally stabbed on July 2, 2018, expresses gratitude to a fellow student who provided him with a meal

A rather poignant moment unfolded during the trial of the murder of Abhimanyu, a graduate student at Maharaja’s College, before the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Thursday when the prosecution produced a brief note, purportedly written by the young victim, expressing gratitude to a fellow student who had provided him with a meal.

“There was only hunger today. At least, I have had a full meal. Thank you very much for providing me with enough food to fill my stomach,” read the note, written in black ink on what appeared to be a scrap torn from a notebook page. The note was produced to demonstrate how Abhimanyu had continued his academic and organisational activities fighting hunger.

The note surfaced during the examination of a former Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) office-bearer of the college in 2018. The witness identified the note, having preserved a photograph of it on his mobile phone. He testified that Abhimanyu had left the note in the plate of the student who had fed him.

The witness also stated that the first accused, Muhammed, had called him on the phone on the fateful night, asking him to move his motorcycle parked near the college gate. He said Abhimanyu’s murder had left him deeply traumatised for nearly a year. According to him, the Students Federation of India (SFI) maintained cordial relations with other student outfits during his time at the college, and there were no major issues.

Abhimanyu, too, shared friendly relations with members of all student organisations. In fact, he was the first to participate in a football penalty shoot-out organised by the KSU, the witness said. He also identified voice messages he had sent to friends upon learning of Abhimanyu’s murder and affirmed their authenticity.

Abhimanyu, a second year BSc Chemistry student and SFI college unit secretary, was fatally stabbed on July 2, 2018, during clashes between activists of the SFI and the Campus Front, the student wing of the Popular Front of India (PFI), reportedly following a dispute over graffiti. The murder triggered widespread protests and reignited debate over political violence on college campuses.

The trial in the Abhimanyu murder case has been proceeding without interruption before the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court since October 15, after the Kerala High Court in July directed that it be completed within four months, acting on a petition filed by Abhimanyu’s mother, Bhoopathy. Principal Sessions Judge K.K. Balakrishnan is presiding over the trial, while G. Mohanraj is appearing as the Special Public Prosecutor.