9 sentenced to life imprisonment in daily 'Dinakaran' attack case

Quashing the release order of the trial court, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, on March 21,  sentenced nine people, including the main accused ‘Attack’ Pandi to life imprisonment in the Dinakaran newspaper attack case of 2007. The court also ordered the Tamil Nadu government to pay ₹ 5 lakh, as compensation, within 3 months to the victims’ families.

Another accused in the case, retired DSP Rajaraman has been summoned to the court on March 25.

The Dinakaran newspaper had conducted an opinion poll, on who would succeed M Karunanidhi, in 2007 and concluded that M K Stalin was the next favourite. This incensed M K Azhagiri’s supporters who set the Dinakaran office on fire.

Three Dinakaran employees Vinodh, Muthuramalingam and Gopinath were torched to death in the attack.