Four PFI Cadre Get Life Term for 2016 Murder of Hindu Munnani Leader in Coimbatore

A special court for NIA cases in Poonamallee, Chennai, on Friday convicted and sentenced four members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of C. Sasikumar, the Coimbatore spokesperson of Hindu Munnani.

The four — Sadam Hussain, Subair, Mubarak and Mohammad Rafiqul Hassan — were handed life terms along with a fine of ₹30,000 each. The court acquitted a fifth accused, Abu alias Syed Abuthagir.

The National Investigation Agency described the outcome as its first conviction involving PFI operatives since the organisation was banned by the Government of India. The agency said it is reviewing the judgment and weighing legal options to challenge the acquittal before an appellate court.

Sasikumar was hacked to death in Coimbatore on September 22, 2016. The NIA said the killing was a targeted act carried out with the intent to spread terror among a section of society and to trigger communal unrest in the region. The murder was followed by violence across six districts, including Coimbatore City and Coimbatore Rural, and led to the registration of more than 300 FIRs by state authorities.

The case was first registered at the Thudiyalur police station in Coimbatore and later taken up by the CB-CID of Tamil Nadu. Following orders from the Government of India dated January 22, 2018, the investigation was transferred to the NIA, which re-registered the case.

Investigators concluded that the accused, as active PFI members, had entered into a criminal conspiracy and carried out the killing. The NIA filed a chargesheet and two supplementary chargesheets against five accused.

The trial began in 2019, with 75 prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses examined. The court convicted the four accused under sections 302, 120-B and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code, and under sections 16, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.