Date:27/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112757350100.htm

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Seven persons get three-year jail term in woman kidnap case

Staff Reporter

VIRUDHUNAGAR: An Assistant Sessions Court here on Wednesday sentenced seven persons to undergo three years of rigorous imprisonment in a woman kidnap case.

According to prosecution, an eight-member gang kidnapped a 20-year-old woman from a primary school in Pannaimoondradaippu near Tiruchuzhi. Eye witnesses alerted the Tiruchuzhi police, who intercepted the vehicle and rescued the woman.

A Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam functionary, A. Namakodi, his two sons, N. Santhanapandi (24) and A. Thangapandi (20) and five others were arrested. The prosecution said that Santhanapandi, who was already married, had planned the kidnap with a motive to marry her. The woman’s father, K. Selvam (43), in his complaint said the woman had suffered a fracture on her hand and lost her 9 sovereign gold jewellery during the kidnap. The incident took place on June 23, 2006. The first accused, Namakodi, is dead since. When the case came up for hearing, the judge, P. Murugambal, found all the seven guilty under Sections 147 (unlawful assembly) and 366 (kidnapping a woman to compel her marriage) of Indian Penal Code.

All the accused were awarded three years imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 1,000 each for the kidnap. Among the accused were A. Ganesan (21), the vehicle driver.