TN: 29 accused in bus burning case convicted

Salem (Tamil Nadu), Feb 15: A local court today convicted 29 people out of the 31 accused in the sensational ''Dharmapuri bus burning case'' in which three girl students were killed after their bus was allegedly torched by AIADMK workers in protest against the conviction of party leader J Jayalalithaa in a corruption case in 2000.

Salem First Class Additional Sessions Court Judge D Krishnaraja, however, reserved the details of the punishment for tomorrow.

While acquitting Palanichamy and Madesh, two of the accused, the Judge ordered police custody for Ravindran and Maniappan, who were on bail.

The 29 were convicted under sections 802, 349, 341, 307, 182, 141 and 147 of the IPC.

Tight security arrangements were made in the court premises and public was not allowed entry inside the hall. Metal detectors were also installed.

All the accused were also directed to appear before the court tomorrow.

Yesterday, the Judge reserved the orders for this morning following the conclusion of arguments on February 5. The 31 people accused in the case, included AIADMK Dharmapuri Union Secretary Muniayappan, who is the prime accused. One died during the trial. In February 2000, students of Tamil Nadu Agriculture University were returning to Coimbatore after an educational tour when irate AIADMK workers stopped the bus and set it ablaze, following the conviction of Ms Jayalalithaa in the Pleasant Stay Hotel case.

The case had assumed significance when the Madras High Court suspended its trial at the Krishnagiri court and transferred it to the Salem sessions court on September 19, 2003.

Justice V Kanagaraj, while passing orders on a petition filed by father of one of the victims, seeking transfer of the case from the Krishnagiri court, had described the trial as a ''colossal failure and eyewash.'' One hundred and twenty three prosecution witnesses and two court witnesses, including the then Vice-Chancellor of TNAU and the Dharmapuri Collector, were examined.

UNI