MADURAI: ALMOST 12 years after three employees were killed in a ghastly attack on the Dinakaran newspaper office in Madurai, nine persons were awarded life sentence in the case by the Madras High Court bench here, on Thursday. The two-judge bench also convicted the then Oomachikulam Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajaram and has asked him to appear before the Court on March 25, when his sentence is likely to be pronounced.
Of the 17 persons accused in the case, the court found nine of them guilty, including notorious history-sheeter Attack Pandi. They have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder — three counts for each of the three dead victims — under Section 302 of the IPC. They have also been awarded 5 years rigourous imprisonment for trespass, and under Explosive Substances Act. The sentences will be served concurrently.
Those convicted in the case are: Attack Pandi, Arockiyaprabhu, Vijaya Pandi, P Kandasamy, G Ramaiah Pandian, V Sudhakar, Thirumurugan, I Ruban and Malik Batcha.
Rs 5 lakh compensation
Holding the police liable for not preventing the death of the three employees in the attack, the bench comprising judges PN Prakash and B Pugalendhi directed the State government to pay `5 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased within three months.
In 2007, the Madurai office of the daily was attacked for allegedly carrying a survey on who would be the political heir of the then DMK supremo M Karunanidhi.
The survey published by the newspaper claimed MK Stalin was the preferred choice to succeed Karunanidhi. The mob, led by Attack Pandi, hurled petrol bombs at the newspaper office, killing three employees. Pandi allegedly was a close aide of former Union Minister MK Alagiri.
In December 2009, all the 17 accused were acquitted by the district sessions court as the case had reportedly not been “proven beyond all reasonable doubt”. In March 2011, however, the Madras High Court allowed an appeal filed by the CBI challenging this decision.
Retired DSP also convicted in case
The quantum of punishment for the 10th convict, then DSP Rajaram, will be pronounced on March 25. Rajaram who has retired from service, has also been convicted in the case. He has been told to appear before of the court on March 25 when his sentence will be pronounced