The trial began in 2019. During the proceedings, the prosecution examined 75 witnesses, while two defence witnesses were also examined. (File Photo: ITG)

NIA Court sentences 4 to life for 2016 murder of Hindu Munnani leader Sasikumar

A special NIA court in Chennai sentenced four PFI cadres to life imprisonment in the 2016 murder of C Sasikumar. The agency said it is reviewing the acquittal of the fifth accused and weighing an appeal.

by · India Today

In Short

  • The four convicted men were each also fined Rs 30,000
  • One of the five accused, Abu alias Syed Abuthagir, was acquitted
  • The NIA said it is studying the verdict and legal options

A Special Court for NIA Cases in Poonamallee, Chennai, on Friday sentenced four cadres of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) to life imprisonment for the murder of Hindu Munnani spokesperson C Sasikumar in Coimbatore in 2016.

The four convicts — Sadam Hussain, Subair, Mubarak and Mohammad Rafiqul Hassan — were each sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 30,000.

The court also acquitted one of the five accused in the case, identified as Abu alias Syed Abuthagir. The National Investigation Agency said it was reviewing the judgment and examining legal options to challenge the acquittal before the appellate court.

According to the NIA, Sasikumar was hacked to death in Coimbatore on September 22, 2016. The agency said the killing was carried out as part of a conspiracy and was intended to create terror and trigger communal tension in the region.

The incident was followed by violence across six districts, including Coimbatore City and Coimbatore Rural, resulting in the registration of more than 300 FIRs by Tamil Nadu Police.

CASE TRANSFERRED TO NIA

The case was initially registered at Thudiyalur Police Station in Coimbatore and was subsequently investigated by the CB-CID of Tamil Nadu.

The Centre transferred the case to the NIA through an order dated January 22, 2018. The agency subsequently re-registered the case as RC-03/2018/NIA/DLI and took over the investigation.

The NIA said its investigation established that the accused were active members of PFI and had entered into a criminal conspiracy to carry out the killing.

The agency filed a chargesheet followed by two supplementary chargesheets against five accused persons.

- Ends