TN: Two-year jail for 14 in abetment case

Pudukottai, Nov 30: A fast track court here sentenced 14 people to two years imprisonment on charges of abetting the escape of two undertrial Sri Lankan nationals arrested in connection with a narcotic case.

Judge P Iyyasamy, however, while pronouncing the verdict yesterday, acquitted five others observing that ''charges against them were not proved.'' The two undertrials were also sentenced to two years imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, the convicts had intercepted a police van in which N Indyas Ahmed (42) and G Selvakumar (48), both Sri Lankan nationals, were taken to Tiruchirapalli Central Prison after producing them before an economic offences court, in connection with narcotics substances offences, on July 26, 2006.

The gang had allegedly attacked the driver and the escort constable before escaping with the undertrials.

Police had registered cases against 21 people, of which 'Manalmedu' Sankar, a notorious rowdy, was killed in a police encounter and Neelai Kumar was still absconding.

UNI