Chennai, February 15
Three AIADMK workers were convicted for murdering three girls while as a mark of protest against the conviction of their leader Jayaram Jayalalithaa seven years ago in a corruption case they burnt a bus in Salem in western Tamil Nadu.
The Salem Sessions Court today convicted the former Dharmapuri town secretary of the AIADMK, Nedunchezhiyan, town MGR forum secretary Madhu, alias Ravichandran, and a former panchayat president P. Muniyappan of murder in the bus burning case.
The court also convicted 25 other AIADMK workers of lesser charges like rioting and wrongful confinement. Two were acquitted. First Additional Sessions Judge D. Krishnaraja said sentencing would take place tomorrow.
The judge ordered the cancellation of bail granted earlier to the three murder convicts and directed the police to take them into custody. However, the three men, who were present in court, pleaded innocence.
The incident drew condemnation from all over the state for the AIADMK, which was known for its track record of intolerance and high-handedness.
The incident took place on February 2, 2000, in protest against the sentencing of Ms Jayalalithaa to one year’s imprisonment.
