Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): Nine RSS workers were sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Thalassery on Tuesday for the murder of a CPI(M) worker in this north Kerala district 19 years ago.

Rijith Sankaran, a 25-year-old CPI(M) member from Kannapuram Chunda, was attacked and killed near a temple in Chunda on October 3, 2005 allegedly by RSS workers during a period of political tension between the two parties in the area.

Rijith was walking home when the accused, armed with weapons, ambushed him and his friends near a well. Three of his friends were injured in the attack.

On January 4, the Additional District Sessions Court in Thalassery found the accused guilty. There were a total of 10 accused in the case, one of whom had died in a road accident.

The convicts include Sudhakaran (57), Jayesh (41), Ranjith (44), Ajeendran (51), Anilkumar (52), Rajesh (46), Sreekanth (47), his brother Sreejith (43), and Bhaskaran (67).

The court found them guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder (Section 302), attempted murder (Section 307), unlawful assembly (Section 143), rioting (Section 147), wrongful restraint (Section 341), and voluntarily causing hurt with weapons (Section 324).

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New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday promised a "Jeevan Raksha Yojana" for free health insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh if voted to power in Delhi.

Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the proposed scheme would be a game-changer.

"The chances of the Congress forming the government in Delhi are increasing. I believe this is also necessary for the country," he said.

Gehlot also highlighted that the proposed scheme reflected the party's commitment to addressing Delhi residents' healthcare needs.

The party's campaign slogan "Hogi Har Zarurat Puri, Congress Hai Zaroori" was prominently displayed during the announcement, highlighting the Congress's "promise" of ensuring essential services for all.

Gehlot said the proposed scheme aimed at providing comprehensive health coverage to families, covering medical expenses for critical illnesses, hospitalisations, and treatments.

"Congress is the party which has kept this country united till date. We believe that the Congress takes along all the castes and religions," he stated.

This health scheme was very successful in Rajasthan and it will be successful in Delhi also. This is a universal scheme which will be for all the people of Delhi, he said.

"I believe that you can win elections by polarisation, but cannot run the country or develop it. Bringing back Congress in Delhi is very important. Sheila Dikshit gave excellent governance and the modern Delhi. We would like to bring that era back in the national capital," Gehlot said.

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said that after the success of the scheme in Rajasthan, Delhi also needed it.

"I am proud of the fact that Gehlot launched this scheme in Rajasthan by the name of Chiranjeevi and after its tremendous success there, we realised that the Delhi also needed it so that the people would get proper treatment here," Yadav added.

On Monday, Congress announced 'Pyaari Didi Yojana', promising a monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to women if voted to power in the national capital.

Polling for the 70-member Delhi assembly will be held on February 5 and votes counted on February 8.