Life imprisonment to 4 PFI cadres for Hindu Munnai leader murder case

The Special NIA Court in Poonamallee on Friday awarded life imprisonment to four key accused associated with the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI) in connection with the murder of a Hindu Munnani functionary Sasikumar in 2016. The Sessions Court for Exclusive Trial of Bomb Blast Cases and NIA Cases in Poonamallee, Chennai, functions as the designated Special Court for trying National Investigation Agency (NIA) and related terrorism cases in Tamil Nadu. C.Sasikumar, who was the spokesperson of the Hindu Munnani,Coimbatore, was chased and hacked to death by a group of assailants in Coimbatore on September 22. 2016.
According to NIA statement,the targeted killing was executed with the clear intent to strike terror among a section of society and incite communal disruption across the region.The incident sparked widespread violence across 6 districts, including Coimbatore City and Coimbatore Rural, leading to the registration of over 300 FIRs by state authorities, the statement noted.The case was initially registered at Thudiyalur Police Station, Coimbatore, and was later investigated by CB-CID, Tamil Nadu. On the orders of the Government of India, dated 22nd January 2018, the case was entrusted to NIA and re-registered a  fresh case.
The trial commenced in 2019, during which 75 prosecution witnesses and 2 defence witnesses were examined. The trial has now culminated in the conviction of 4 accused for offences under sections 302, 120-B and 153-A of the IPC, and sections 16, 18 and 20 of the UA (P) Act. The convicted individuals — Sadam Hussain, Subair, Mubarak and Mohammad Rafiqul Hassan — have each been sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs30,000.
The Special Court acquitted one co-accused, identified as Abu @ Syed Abuthagir. NIA is currently reviewing the judgment and exploring all available legal avenues to challenge the acquittal in the appellate court.

(Freelance Journalist)