3 get triple life terms for killing two cab drivers

COIMBATORE: Three people were sentenced to triple life terms and two were given double life terms for murder and robbery by the special court for bomb blast cases here on Tuesday. They are accused of abducting three taxi drivers and murdering two of them between 2006 and 2007.
In the first incident, Rajan alias Kunjan, 50, a taxi driver from Pollachi was hired by John Anthony, 33, a taxi driver of Gandhi Mandapam Street, Pollachi, M Muthu alias Muthumanickam, 30, Ganeshkumar, 23, M Chinnaraj, 30, and C Arunagiri alias Arul, 25, all from Udumlpet in Tirupur district on May 26, 2006 to go to Palani.Near Ammapatti, they hit Rajan with a spade, tied him up and later killed him.They buried him near Mullupadi railway gate near Kinathukadavu. The owner of the taxi lodged a complaint with Pollachi East police.
In the second incident, John Thomas, a taxi driver from Pollachi, was hired by John Anthony, Muthu, Ganesh, R Rajeshkumar, 19, and D Kaleeswaran, 20, on July 18, 2007 to visit Palani. Near Thalaiyuthu, the men murdered Thomas and buried the body in Karur district. His wife Mary lodged a complaint with Pollachi East police. The gang sold the parts of the cars.
In the third incident, John Anthony and three others G Gandhirajan, 32, A Rathinam alias Rathinakumar, 36, and K Vijayan, 24, hired omnivan driver Balasubramaniam from Pollachi on October 27, 2007. He was tied up and left in the back seat. When one of the men stopped at a petrol bunk, he managed to open the door of the van and roll out. The men escaped with the van. Balasubramaniam lodged a complaint with Pollachi East police who arrested the 10 men. Police filed chargesheets in connection with the three cases and the case trial was held at the special court for bomb blast cases. Special public prosecutor J Amalanathan demanded the maximum punishment for the accused.
Judge M Suresh Viswanath delivered the verdict on Tuesday. He ordered triple life sentences for John Anthony, Muthu and Ganesh and double life terms to Rajeshkumar and Kaleeswaran. The sentences will run concurrently. The judge acquitted Chinnaraj and Arunagiri. Gandhirajan, Rathinam and Vijayan were sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment for attempt to robbery.