Seven men get life term for murder over poll clash

Seven men were today awarded life sentences for murder by a court over a violent clash between two groups during 2011 civic polls that left a man dead and scores of others seriously injured.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Tindivanam R Baranidharan also sentenced seven others to varying terms of imprisonment.
K Muniyandi, the prime accused, and fortynine others allegedly attacked Annadurai and his suppporters in 2011 in Melpakkam village near Tindivanam in the district over previous enmity relating to contesting civic elections.
In the resultant clash, P Nagappan was killed and a dozen men, including Annadurai, injured.
Delivering the verdict in the case, Judge Baranidharan convicted Muniyandi, Annamalai, Narayanan, Nirmal, Kumaran, Nandan, and Venkatesan for murder, rioting with deadly weapons and causing grievous injuries.

They were also fined Rs.2,500 each, Additional Public Prosecutor C P Shanmugam told PTI.
While Ramesh, another accused was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment, six others were sentenced to three years in jail for committing offences including voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons.