THENI
The Periyakulam Sub-Court on Wednesday sentenced six Maoists, convicted under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code in a case relating to arms training by a group of Maoists in Murugan Malai near Periyakulam, to various terms of rigorous imprisonment.
Those convicted were Sundara Murthy, Ranjith, Vivek, Muthuselvan, Balakrishnan and Easwaran.
Amid tight security, Sundaramoorthy was brought from Puzhal prison in Chennai, Vivek from Madurai prison and Ranjith from Palayamkottai prison. The other three accused – who had been released on bail – too appeared before the court.
Judge Vijaya Kumar awarded seven-year imprisonment to Sundara Murthy, five-year imprisonment each to Vivek and Ranjith, a jail term of three years and nine months to Muthuselvan, three years to Balakrishnan, and three months to Easwaran and slapped a fine of fine of ₹100 on him.
The judge also said imprisonment could be deducted from the period they had so far spent in jail for the anti-national act. The entire court complex had been brought under security blanket in the morning.
A huge haul of arms and ammunition from Murugan Malai was seized and three Maoists – Velmurugan, Muthuselvan and Palanivel – were arrested while they were engaged in arms training on June 26, 2007.
Later, Tirupur police arrested Sundaramoorthy (39) of Ramaiyampatti in Dharmapuri district, who had been wanted in 10 cases and absconding for 15 years, and Karthik and Easwaran.
Another accused Bala alias Balakrishnan was arrested at Oddanchatram bus stand. Ranjith was arrested in Karnataka and brought to Tamil Nadu.
They were produced before the court on June 7, 2011.
A 424-page charge sheet against them was submitted at the court. Copies of the charge sheet were given to all the accused. Later, the case was transferred to Periyakulam Sub-Court. Meanwhile, Vivek was arrested in Chennai and was produced before the sub-court on May 20, 2015.
Bail was granted to Muthuselvan, Easwaran, Balakrishnan, Velmurugan, Karthik and Palanivel. But Velmurugan, Karthik and Palanivel jumped bail.
All the other accused were in prison.
