Two women among 16 sentenced to life in Sivaganga murder case

The incident occurred in 2010 over a dispute between two families of the same caste at Subbiahpuram in Avarangadu.

According to the prosecution, P Allimuthu (55) of Subbiahpuram, Avarangadu, was hacked to death by a gang of 18 persons, against whom the victim had developed some enmity over some cattle issue.

The murder occurred on August 30, 2010. Based on a complaint lodged by Chandrakumar of Kachanatham, Thirupachethi police filed a case against all the accused under Sections 147, 148,341, 326, 307,149 and 302 of IPC.

After investigating, the Thirupachethi police arrested the 18 accused and they were sent to judicial custody.

Moreover, a total of 16 weapons, including spear, knives and machetes, were also seized following the incident.

The investigation team filed a chargesheet, which ran over 500 pages, in the case. After hearing prosecution witnesses, B Karthikeyan, the Principal District Judge, found the accused guilty of murder and sentenced them to undergolife imprisonment.

However, during the trial, M Sekar, the prime accused in the murder, and K Karuppaiya, figured as the 17th accused in the case, died. Amidst tight security, the convicts were taken to Madurai Central Prison,sources said.

The accused, facing life term, have been identified as M Poojaimani, M Pandivel, M Veerapathran, K Muniyandi, V Alagupandi, P Muniyandi, K Palaniyandi, T Rajangam, B Prabu, R Muthupandi, P Rathi, M Ramayi, K Veerapathran, P Michael alias Muniyandi, K Ganesan and K Selvaraj.

Among the accused, Michael alias Muniyandi and complainant Chandrakumar were accused in Kachanatham triple murder case reported in 2018, the sources said.

Manamadurai Deputy Superintendent of Police G Karthikeyan said adequate police force has been deployed at Subbiahpuram in Avarangadu to prevent untoward incident. Moreover, the police force was also strengthened on the court premises, theDSP said.