Coimbatore, June 14: Six associates of forest brigand Veerappan were today awarded life imprisonment by an erode court in connection with an attack on a police party in 1996 in which a constable was killed.

The erode 2nd additional sessions court acquitted nine out of the 15 people tried in the case. The prosecution case was that Veerappan and his gang had attacked the Special Task Force (STF), led by the then SP Tamil Selvan, in Arepallam forests coming under Hasanoor limits on Feb 17, 1996.

A constable was killed and an inspector and two constables were injured in the attack. Besides, Tamil Selvan had lost his fingers on right hand in the incident. Police had registered a case against 30 people, including Veerappan, 'Tuppaki' Siddan, his wife Kumbi and brother Mahadevan.

Fifteen people were arrested in this connection and the case was going on in a sub-ordinate court in Gobichettipalayam which was later transferred to the 2nd additional sessions court, erode. After completion of the trial, in which 23 witnesses were examined, judge Nazeer Ahmed sentenced six persons Siddan, Alumalai, 'Kulla' Madan, Shiva, 'Kulla' Batcha and Mahadevan to life imprisonment.

The judge also slapped a fine of Rs 3,500 on Alumalai and Rs 3000 each on other five.

Nine others, including Kumbhi, were acquitted by the court. Bureau Report