Indian court gives four men life sentences for 2017 murder

An Indian court sentenced four men to life imprisonment for a murder committed in 2017. The Hindu reported that each defendant was also fined 30,000 rupees.

According to the prosecution account described by the newspaper, Palanikumar, also known as Duraipandi, was hacked to death during a property dispute. The 60-year-old lived in Seeniyapuram, within the jurisdiction of Veeravanallur police station.

Police arrested Manikandan, 37, from Rajakuththalaperi, Gopu, 40, from Harikesavanallur, and Udhayakanth and Veldurai, also known as Parthibhan, both 29 and from Paththanmedu. The Hindu described the latter two as people with police records.

Judge Selvam of the First Additional Sessions Court convicted the four on Friday of murdering Palanikumar and imposed the sentences. Each convicted man received life imprisonment and an individual fine, rather than a single penalty applying to the group as a whole.