KRISHNAGIRI: The additional district sessions court in Hosur on Thursday sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the murder of a temple guard during a theft that occurred over a decade ago.
Incident Details
On March 24, 2009, a group of individuals entered the Dakshina Tirupati Temple in Gobasandiram village near Hosur with the intention of stealing money and valuables. When the guard, Raju alias Chinnaraj, intervened, he was severely assaulted. The assailants escaped with some valuables. Raju, who suffered severe injuries, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital, according to a court official.
Legal Proceedings
Another guard, Paramasivam, filed a complaint with the Shoolagiri police. The police arrested six men, including Lakshmanan, 56, Mariyappan, 56, Mukundan, and Palani, all from Karimangalam in Dharmapuri district. After a trial that continued for many years, the court convicted Lakshmanan and Mariyappan.
Sentencing
The court sentenced them to life imprisonment for the murder and 30 years of rigorous imprisonment for the theft at the temple. Additionally, the court imposed a fine of ₹1,000 on Lakshmanan and ₹3,000 on Mariyappan.
Other Accused
Mukundan and Palani died during the trial period. The cases involving the other two accused are still awaiting conclusion.
