The District and Sessions Court in Vellore convicted 22 people in connection with the 2015 Ambur riots that erupted after the death of 26-year-old Shameel Ahamed.
At the same time, 106 others facing trial were acquitted.
Judge Meenakumari of the Tirupattur District Sessions Court pronounced the long-awaited verdict, bringing closure to a case that had lingered for nearly a decade.
Case Background
The riots were triggered after the disappearance of Pavithra, wife of Palani from Kuschipalayam near Anaikattu under Pallikonda police jurisdiction. During the probe, Inspector Martin Prem Raj summoned Shameel Ahamed, a resident of Ambur. While being questioned, Shameel developed health complications and was rushed to the Government General Hospital in Chennai, where he died despite treatment.
His relatives alleged that Shameel had been assaulted in police custody, fueling public anger. Soon after, thousands gathered on the Ambur National Highway to protest. The demonstration quickly escalated into violence, with mobs torching buses, damaging police vehicles, a liquor outlet, a private hospital, and several shops.
Police Casualties
The violence left 71 policemen injured. In total, cases were registered against 134 individuals. Six of the accused died during the course of the trial, leaving 128 to face proceedings.
Judge Meenakumari examined the matter across seven cases. In the first six, the court acquitted 106 accused, citing lack of sufficient evidence. The judge also came down heavily on the then state government for failing to act swiftly during the riots, and directed that compensation be paid for damages.
The properties of late Aslam Basha, former Ambur MLA from the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and identified as a key instigator of the violence, were also ordered to be confiscated and handed over to the state as penalty.
Conviction & Sentences
In the seventh case, 22 individuals were convicted on charges of damaging public property, attacking police personnel, and misbehaving with women constables. Depending on the gravity of offences, they were handed prison terms ranging from three years to 14 years, along with fines between ₹3,000 & ₹25,000.
The court further directed the government to pay ₹10 lakh each to Head Constable Vijayakumar and Woman Constable Rajalakshmi, both of whom suffered serious injuries during the riots. Government witnesses were also awarded ₹1 lakh each as compensation.
Commending acts of bravery, the court praised policeman Raja, who carried injured women officers to safety on his shoulders at the height of the violence.
Heavy Security During Verdict
Given the sensitivity of the case, elaborate security arrangements were made on the day of the verdict. Over 700 police personnel were deployed across Tirupattur district under the supervision of Tirupattur District SP Shyamala Devi and Vellore District SP Mayilvaganan to prevent any untoward incident.
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