Thrissur: Six persons, including a Congress activist, have been sentenced to double life term for murdering Congress leader Madhu Eacharath at Ayyanthole here on June 1, 2013.
Additional district and sessions judge K P Sudhir granted another person life term over charges of harbouring the offenders.
Madhu was murdered in front of Karthyayani temple when he had come to the temple with his wife to offer prayers. He was first knocked down by an autorikshaw and later hacked to death using a sword and a knife.
Premji Kollannur, Plakkal Martin, Mangad Shinoj, Vadakkekunnambath Praveen, Kodiyil Prajith, and Puthenveettil Suresh were given double life term while the seventh accused Manjakkattil Sanoop was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Premji, one of the persons found guilty, was a Congress activist and his brother Lalji Kollannur was murdered weeks after the murder of Madhu. A few of the other accused also had links with the Congress while the rest were members of a hired gang.
Police attributed the murders to factional feuds in the Congress. The prosecution alleged that Premji, Martin and Sanoop hatched the conspiracy to murder Madhu while the remaining four executed the murder plan.