CHENNAI: Madras High Court has suspended the life sentence awarded by a trial court to six persons in connection with a violent clash between the cadres of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and dalits in Marakkanam resulting in the death of a PMK worker in 2013.
A Division Bench comprising Justice M Jaichandran and Justice S Nagamuthu suspended the life sentence of Manikandan (33), Ragu (31) Senthilkumar (32) Parnathan (37), Rajee(27), Sekar (39).
All the six, residents of Kazhikuppam near Tindivanam, were sentenced to life imprisonment by Additional District and Sessions judge P Selva Muthukumari February 3, 2016.
The case pertains to the clash that broke out at Marakkanam in Villupuram district between local dalit residents and PMK cadres who were proceeding to the annual “Chithra Pournami Peruvizha”, organised by the Vanniyar Sangam, at Mamallapuram.
Following the clash over half a dozen tenements, buses and shops were torched and Selvaraj, a PMK cadre was found dead near Kazhikuppam bus stand in the area.