Coimbatore SC/ST Special Court delivers a landmark judgment in the 2016 Dalit youth murder case, sentencing 10 convicts to double life imprisonment and two others to life sentence after 8 years.
Coimbatore: In a significant ruling, the Coimbatore SC/ST Special Court has delivered a verdict in the 2016 Dalit youth murder case, sentencing 10 convicts to double life imprisonment and two others to life imprisonment after eight years.
The case revolves around the brutal murder of Thamaraiselvan (23), a diploma graduate from Rathinapuri area in Coimbatore. On April 3, 2016, Thamaraiselvan, along with his brother Prasanth and friend Jagadish, was surrounded by a group armed with deadly weapons near Sinraj Nagar Putrukkan Mariamman Temple. The assailants, motivated by previous altercations and caste animosity, chased and attacked Thamaraiselvan with knives and sickles.
In a desperate attempt to escape, Thamaraiselvan sought refuge in a nearby house belonging to one Manoj Kumar. However, the attackers broke into the house, dragged him out, and continued their assault. They brutally beat him with a pestle and crushed his head with a stone, resulting in his death.
Following the incident, the Rathinapuri police arrested a group of 14 individuals involved in the murder. The case proceeded in the Coimbatore SC/ST Special Court, where 40 witnesses were examined. Judge Vivekanandan pronounced 13 out of the 14 accused as guilty. Ten convicts, including Thala Vicky, Thoppu Mahendran, Tips Karthik, Kawaskhan, Tile Suresh, Prakash, Nandu Naveen, Vimal, Ondarai Gautham, and Kalaivanan, were sentenced to double life imprisonment. Two others, Christopher and Karuppu Gautham, received life sentences.
One accused, Jayasing, passed away during the trial, while another, Vijay, was acquitted. The convicted individuals, who were previously out on bail, appeared in court for the verdict and will be transferred to the Central Prison under heavy security. The court premises saw a gathering of relatives and friends of the convicts, prompting increased police presence to maintain order.
This verdict marks a significant step towards justice in a case that highlighted issues of caste-based violence and served as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality in society.