2000 Dharmapuri bus burning

Bus burned by AIADMK cadres killing three people January 2020 September 2019 2000 Dharmapuri bus burning Dharmapuri Bus Burning.jpg 300px The bus, fully engulfed in flames The Hindu photo Ilakiyampatti, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, India Tamil Nadu Agricultural University bus passengers 2000 02 02 y Arson, mass murder 3 16 Muniappan, Nedunchezhian, Ravindran D.K. Rajendran and 24 other AIADMK membershttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/TN-bus-burning-case-SC-commutes-death-sentence-of-3-to-life/articleshow/51367261.cms TN bus burning case: SC commutes death sentence of 3 to life The Times of India 12 March 2016 11 March 2016http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-28-aiadmk-men-convicted-in-bus-burning-case-1080107 28 AIADMK men convicted in bus burning case DNA 15 February 1007 11 March 2016 Petrol bomb Protest against Jayalalithaa's conviction in the Pleasant Stay hotel case The Dharmapuri bus burning occurred on 2 February 2000 in Ilakiyampatti, on the outskirts of Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu, India. Three students from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (TNAU) were burned to death in a bus by AIADMK cadres after the conviction of Jayalalithaa by a special court for the Kodaikanal Pleasant Stay Hotel case.http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/02/03/stories/01030005.htm 3 burnt alive 3 February 2000 The Hindu 8 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20121111025000/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/02/03/stories/01030005.htm 11 November 2012 usurped https://frontline.thehindu.com/dispatches/article29963867.ece Premature release of all Melavalavu murder convicts sparks outrage in Tamil Nadu Rajasekaran Ilangovan Frontline 13 November 2019 en 2020-04-29 After this incident then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi ordered a CB-CID investigation, and Jayalalithaa demanded a CBI probe to ensure a fair trial. The three men — Muniappan, Nedunchezhian, and Ravindran—were sentenced to death, and their sentences were initially upheld by the Supreme Court of India. Their sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment, however, by a three-member bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi after a review petition. The Salem District Court had said that the crime was committed "only for the political career".https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/Death-for-3-AIADMK-men-in-Dharmapuri-bus-burning-case/article14721821.ece Death for 3 AIADMK men in Dharmapuri bus burning case The Hindu 17 February 2007 20 October 2019 subscription Although defense lawyer L. Nageswara Rao admitted that the three culprits took petrol from a workshop, set fire to the bus and killed the students, they were "in a state of mob frenzy"https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dharmapuri-bus-burning-case-tn-governor-explains-why-he-agreed-to-set-free-life-convicts/article62024289.ece Dharmapuri bus burning case T.N governor explains why he agreed to set free life convicts S. Vijay Kumar 20 November 2018 The Hindu and his defense was based on diminished responsibility.https://www.huffingtonpost.in/suchitra-vijayan/dharmapuri-bus-burning-a-_b_9556544.html Wait, Murderous Bus-Burning AIADMK Members Were 'Victims' Of Mob-Think? The Apex Court Thinks So Huffington Post Suchitra Vijayan 15 July 2016 9 July 2018http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/dharmapuri-bus-burning-sc-commutes-death-sentence-to-life-imprisonment-116031100989_1.html Dharmapuri bus burning: SC commutes death sentence to life imprisonment Business Standard 11 March 2016 11 March 2016https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tracking-indian-communities/sc-ruling-on-dharmapuri-bus-burning-a-misinterpretation/ SC ruling on Dharmapuri bus burning a misinterpretation The Times of India K M Vijayan 23 March 2016 9 July 2018https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/SC-commutes-death-penalty-of-Dharmapuri-bus-burning-convicts-to-life/article14149682.ece SC commutes death penalty of Dharmapuri bus burning convicts to life The Hindu 11 March 2016 9 July 2018 The government advocated their release; the governor Banwarilal Purohit returned their files to the state government for reconsideration of their premature release and but it again sent to him and the three men all members were released from the Vellore Central Prison in November 2018.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/dharmapuri-bus-burning-case-three-life-convicts-released-from-vellore-jail/articleshow/66691136.cms Dharmapuri bus burning case: Three life convicts released from Vellore Jail The Times of India Shanmughasundaram J 19 November 2018 19 November 2018 Background Soon after coming to power in Tamil Nadu in 1996, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party filed a series of corruption cases against former chief minister and AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa and other ministers and bureaucrats in her government. In the Pleasant Stay hotel case, a special-court ruling by Justice V. Radhakrishnan convicted Jayalalithaa and sentenced her to one year of "rigorous imprisonment".http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/02/03/stories/01030004.htm https://archive.today/20130125120438/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/02/03/stories/01030004.htm usurped 25 January 2013 Jayalalitha convicted in hotel case 3 February 2000 The Hindu 8 August 2009 The ruling led to statewide protests and violence, including damage to public property by AIADMK members.http://www.hindu.com/2000/02/03/stories/04032231.htm Hotel Case Verdict: AIADMK volunteers go berserk 3 February 2000 8 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20121105083052/http://www.hindu.com/2000/02/03/stories/04032231.htm 5 November 2012 The Hindu dead Protests in Elakiyampatti, Dharmapuri were led by AIADMK Dharmapuri Union Secretary D. K. Rajendran and other AIADMK party workers, including former Dharmapuri secretary Nedu (Nedunchezhiyan), MGR Forum functionary Madhu (Ravindran), and former panchayat president P. Muniappan.http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_ETNEW&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=ETM/2010/08/31&ID=Ar00300 https://web.archive.org/web/20180709123404/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_ETNEW&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=ETM/2010/08/31&ID=Ar00300 dead 9 July 2018 SC upholds death for Amma's boys 3 AIADMK Workers Who Burnt Alive College Girls During Protest Against Jaya's Conviction Join Death Row The Times of India Sanjay K Singh 7 September 2010 9 July 2018 Burning Seventy students from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, returning from a study tour, were separated by gender on two buses. During their trip, they learned about Jayalalithaa's conviction in the Pleasant Stay hotel case. Latha (a lecturer accompanying the students) called TNAU's vice-chancellor, who recommended that they go to a safe place and return to Coimbatore when it was safer. They tried to drive to the district collector's office, but were unable to reach it due to traffic obstruction.https://www.thehindu.com/2000/04/29/stories/04292233.htm AIADMK members among 31 chargesheeted 29 April 2000 The Hindu 9 July 2018September 2026 medicmedic The party workers threw petrol bombs into the bus containing 44 female students and two lecturers.https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/040316/was-upset-with-jaya-conviction-plead-3-aiadmk-men-on-death-row-for-burning-bus.html Was upset with Jaya conviction, plead 3 AIADMK men on death row for burning bus 4 March 2016 J Venkatesan Deccan Chronicle 9 July 2018 The front of the bus caught fire, and the flames spread backward. Since the bus's back door was locked and the keys were unavailable, lecturers Latha, Akila, and several students left the other bus and broke through the back door to pull out the students. Three female students (Hemalatha from Chennai, V. Gayathri from Virudhachalam and Kokilavani from Namakkal) were burned to death, and 16 others were injured. The bus burning was broadcast the following day on Sun TV.http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/22/stories/2005062206970500.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20060223221505/http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/22/stories/2005062206970500.htm dead 23 February 2006 Sun TV news editor deposes in bus-burning trial 22 June 2005 The Hindu 13 August 2009 Aftermath By 6 November 2001, all eleven witnesses had become hostile during cross-examination in Krishnagiri.https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/11/07/stories/04072234.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20020307150557/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/11/07/stories/04072234.htm dead 7 March 2002 10 more witnesses turn hostile in bus burning case D. Sivarajan The Hindu 6 November 2001 The witnesses included three Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation drivers and people working in, or owning, establishments near the incident location. Drivers Saleem Basha of the Coimbatore-Hosur bus and Kamaraj recanted initial statements made to the CB-CID that they could identify the persons involved; they drove buses which were damaged that day in Erapatti and near the Patchaiamman temple, respectively. The burning angered the student community. Schools and colleges were asked to close for a week, and students statewide held silent protest marches condemning the act.http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/04tn.htm Schools and colleges ordered shut in Tamil Nadu https://web.archive.org/web/20090415184135/http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/04tn.htm 15 April 2009 live 24 August 2009 Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi ordered a CB-CID investigation, and Jayalalithaa demanded a CBI probe to ensure a fair trial.http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/02/04/stories/04042231.htm Bus burning incident: Jayalalithaa demands CBI inquiry 4 February 2000 The Hindu 13 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20041130022900/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/02/04/stories/04042231.htm 30 November 2004 usurped During the initial trial at Krishnagiri Court, 20 witnesses became hostile. N. P. Veerasamy, Kokilavani's father, appealed to the Madras High Court for a change of venue; AIADMK had returned to power in Tamil Nadu, the case prosecutor was appointed by the party, and the accused were AIADMK functionaries and party activists. The high court halted the trial; Judge V. Kanagaraj called it a "colossal failure and eyewash", and ordered a retrial at Salem Court.https://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/20/stories/2003092006520100.htm HC scraps 'eyewash' of bus burning trial 20 September 2003 The Hindu 9 July 2018September 2026 medicmedichttp://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMC8wOC8zMSNBcjAwNzAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom https://web.archive.org/web/20180709010958/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMC8wOC8zMSNBcjAwNzAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom dead 9 July 2018 How the bus burning case victims got justice HC Shifted Trial From Dharmapuri to a Salem Court The Times of India A Subramani 31 August 2010 9 July 2018 After a series of delays in appointing a special public prosecutorhttp://www.hindu.com/2004/12/07/stories/2004120707640400.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20041227023419/http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/07/stories/2004120707640400.htm dead 27 December 2004 Bus burning case: court directive to investigating agency 7 December 2004 The Hindu 24 August 2009 and problems with missing case bundles,http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/18/stories/2005021809910100.htm https://archive.today/20130125084709/http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/18/stories/2005021809910100.htm dead 25 January 2013 Bus burning case bundles missing? 18 February 2005 The Hindu 24 August 2009 the trial progressed. Seven years after the burning, on 15 February 2007, the Salem court sentenced three AIADMK members to death and 25 others to seven years' imprisonment.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/death-for-three-aiadmk-members/33712-3.html Death for three AIADMK members 16 February 2007 CNN IBN 24 August 2009 https://archive.today/20120715222055/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/death-for-three-aiadmk-members/33712-3.html 15 July 2012 dead Two others were acquitted, and one died during the investigation. The judgment (including the three capital sentences) was upheld by Madras High Court on 6 December 2007,http://ibnlive.in.com/news/madras-hc-upholds-death-penalty-to-aiadmk-men/53690-3.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121004013803/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/madras-hc-upholds-death-penalty-to-aiadmk-men/53690-3.html dead 4 October 2012 Madras HC upholds death penalty to AIADMK men 6 December 2007 CNN IBN 24 August 2009 and the Supreme Court on 30 August 2010.http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-08-30/india/28285555_1_dharmapuri-bus-aiadmk-workers-death-sentence https://web.archive.org/web/20121103062141/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-08-30/india/28285555_1_dharmapuri-bus-aiadmk-workers-death-sentence dead 3 November 2012 Dharmapuri bus burning case: SC upholds death for three AIADMK workers 30 August 2010 The Times of India 30 August 2010http://zeenews.india.com/news/tamil-nadu/dharmapuri-bus-burning-sc-stays-execution-of-3_683561.html Dharmapuri bus burning: SC stays execution of 3 28 January 2011 Zee news 7 January 2013 However, the sentences were commuted to life imprisonment after defence lawyers L. Nageswara Rao and Sushil Kumar said that the AIADMK mob only aimed to damage buses, not kill; they had acted impulsively. The Supreme Court of India then accepted their argument of diminished responsibility. It was learned that Dharmapuri AIADMK leader D. K. Rajendran, the first suspect in the case which organized the road protest (with a seven-year conviction which was reduced to two years), held four positions in a cooperative milk society become known. Rajendran later resigned after the Madras High Court expressed "deep anguish and displeasure" that a convict could hold positions despite being disqualified.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/First-accused-in-Dharmapuri-bus-burning-case-quits-posts/articleshow/25220172.cms First accused in Dharmapuri bus burning case quits posts The Times of India A Subramani 4 November 2013 9 July 2018 A granite memorial with the names of the three victims was built at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University hostel; all were 20 years old at the time of their deaths.https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/TNAU-students-pay-homage-to-bus-burning-victims/article14721873.ece https://web.archive.org/web/20241007091151/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/TNAU-students-pay-homage-to-bus-burning-victims/article14721873.ece live 7 October 2024 TNAU students pay homage to bus burning victims The Hindu 17 February 2007 subscription 9 July 2018 The AIADMK-ruled Tamil Nadu government attempted to release the three suspects in the bus burning. According to prison sources, at least 1,500 prisoners would benefit from the government's general amnesty, which included the three convicts and was seen as a tactical move by the party. On 19 November 2018, the AIADMK members convicted in the bus burning were released.https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/aiadmk-men-convicted-in-dharmapuri-college-bus-burning-case-set-free/article62024380.ece AIADMK men convicted in Dharmapuri college bus burning case set free 19 November 2019 The Hindu India 19 November 2018 Veerasamy the father of Kokilavani one of the girls burnt alive criticized the release of the convicts and called it a "Murder of Justice".https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/a-murder-of-justice-says-father-of-victim/articleshow/66705493.cms A murder of justice, says father of victim The Times of India Senthil Kumaran & Shanmughasundaram J 20 November 2018 4 April 2021 Case timeline 2000 On 2 February, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa was sentenced by a special court to a one-year imprisonment for her role in the Kodaikanal Pleasant Stay hotel case. AIADMK protesters set fire to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University bus. Three students were burned to death, and 16 others were injured.https://sci.gov.in/jonew/judis/36747.pdf In the Supreme Court of India – Criminal Appellate Jurisdictional Criminal Appeal Nos. 127–130 of 2008 Supreme Court of India 9 July 2018 9 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180709064731/https://sci.gov.in/jonew/judis/36747.pdf deadhttp://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/04nadar.htm They burnt to death in front of our eyes' A G Nadar Rediff News 9 July 2018https://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/22/stories/2005032206040500.htm Witnesses recall Dharmapuri bus burning incident 22 May 2005 The Hindu 9 July 2018September 2026 medicmedic Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi ordered a CB-CID investigation, and Jayalalithaa insisted on a CBI probe. On 3 February, three AIADMK members and 25 others were convicted. 2001 Up to 20 witnesses turned hostile before the trial in Krishnagiri, and the Madras High Court transferred the case to Salem District Court. Missing case files and the appointment of a special prosecutor delayed the trial. 2007 The Salem court sentenced the three AIADMK men to death on 16 February, a verdict upheld by the Madras High Court on 6 December. 2010 On 30 August, the Supreme Court upheld the Madras High Court ruling. 2016 On 4 March, the three convicts filed a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking to commute their death sentences. Seven days later, the court commuted their sentences to life imprisonment. 2018 The Tamil Nadu government issued an orders to release over 1,600 long-time prisoners, including the Dharmapuri bus-burning convicts, on 1 February to mark the birth centenary of former Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). In October, the governor rejected the recommendation to release the three convicts. The following month, however, the Tamil Nadu government reiterated its recommendation to release the trio; the governor approved the recommendation this time, and they were released from Vellore Central Prison on 19 November. In popular culture The Tamil language film Kalloori was released in December 2007, days before the Madras High Court upheld the Salem court judgment. The film's climax was the bus-burning incident and, after public and media demands, its ending was changed.http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/15327/Kalloori-different-climax.html Kalloori, with a different climax! 19 December 2007 Yahoo Movies India 24 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20080208051006/http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/15327/Kalloori-different-climax.html 8 February 2008 dead References External links Supreme Court of India C. Muniappan & Ors vs State Of Tamil Nadu on 30 August 2010 Madras High Court N.P. Veerasamy vs State Of Tamil Nadu on 22 August 2003 Tamil Nadu Category:2000 fires in Asia Category:2000 murders in India Category:Arson attacks on vehicles in India Category:Arson attacks on buses Category:Crime in Tamil Nadu Category:Dharmapuri district Category:February 2000 in India Category:2000s in Tamil Nadu Category:Jayalalithaa Category:20th-century mass murders in India Category:Transport in Tamil Nadu Category:Bus incidents in India Category:Disasters in Tamil Nadu Category:Arson in 2000 Category:Attacks in India in 2000 Category:20th-century political riots Category:2000 in Indian politics Category:February 2000 crimes in Asia Category:2000 road incidents Category:2000s road incidents in Asia Category:Violence against women in India Category:Incidents of violence against women Category:2000 mass murders Category:All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam