SALEM: Seven persons were awarded double life imprisonment and five persons were sentenced to life imprisonment in a 14-year-old double murder case on Thursday.In 2003, in a scuffle over a temple festival, Kuppusamy (25) and Soundararajan, residents of Pallikoodathanur near Veeranam, were killed by a gang led by one Natesan. According to sources, the duo and the Natesan-led gang had a fight over collection of money for the festival. Later, on July 15, 2003, more than 25 villagers went to Kuppusamy and Soundararajan’s house and killed them. When the then Superintendent of Police (SP) Pon Manickavel came to the village to investigate, all the villagers accepted their involvement in the murder. Nevertheless, police arrested 24 people, including Natesan, Jaganathan, Kumaravel and Palanivel.
On Thursday, Salem First Additional Sessions Court Judge Raveendran delivered the verdict in this case. Accused Natesan (52), Jaganathan (42), Kumaravel (41), Selvam (41), Thiyagarajan (35) and Selvaraj (52) were sentenced to double imprisonment and fined `10,000 each. Likewise, Sekar (43), Dharmalingam (41), P Selvam (40), Kumaresan (43) and Manickam (40) got life imprisonment and a penalty of `5,000 each.
The Court also imposed Rs 1,000 fine on Vijaya, Krishnammal and Madhu for illegal assembly. The remaining five persons were acquitted. After the verdict was announced, police took the 12 people to Coimbatore Central Prison.