Kozhikode: The process of filing chargesheet against the 102 accused listed in the communal violence at Marad in Kerala that claimed five lives during January 2002, was completed on May 15.

According to police, the chargesheet, running into over 2,000 pages, was submitted to the first class judicial magistrate.

Although the prosecution had earlier submitted the chargesheet against the accused together, it was rejected by the court, seeking filing of separate chargesheet against the accused.

Major political parties had criticised the United Democratic Front (UDF) government for "undue delay" in filing the chargesheet in the January 2002 case, particularly after Marad witnessed a fresh bout of violence on May 2 in which nine persons were killed.

Meanwhile, Crime Branch police, investigating the May 2 incident, have arrested a Marad ward member in the Beypore panchayat area and a priest of a place of worship from where arms and weapons were recovered following the incident.

The duo, who were arrested on May 14, have been remanded to judicial custody.

PTI