In a major relief to the Pattali Makkal Katchi, a party promoted by the Vanniyar community in Tamil Nadu, a court in Tindivanam near Chennai sentenced six VCK activists to life imprisonment on charges of murder, possession of deadly weapons and rioting in connection with the 2013 riots which resulted in the death of a youth.
The riots took place in the run up to the youth meet organised by the PMK at Mahabalipuram. It was alleged that a group of PMK activists who were on their way to the meet were waylaid by activists of the VCK, a Dalit outfit resulting in the death of one of the youth belonging to the PMK.
The Tamil Nadu police had arrested many leaders of the PMK including party founder Ramadoss and his son Anbumani for violating prohibitory orders in connection with the Marakanam rioting.
All major political parties in the State except the BJP had come down heavily on the PMK for the riots terming it anti Dalit. Selva Muthukumari, the second additional district and sessions judge found M Manikandan, V Raghu, E Senthilkumar, S Parinathan, M Raji, M Sekar (all VCK activists) guilty of all the charges made by Tamil Nadu Crime Branch CID which investigated the case.
Terming the case as the rarest of rare the judge held them guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment besides imposing fines for the offences including murder, possession of deadly weapons and rioting.