The judge, G Savithri, sentenced six accused - A Syed Ali, 'Police' Fakruddin, Abdul Nainar, Jagubar Sadiq ali, Shajahan and Akbar Saleem to seven years of Imprisonment and 31 others to five years imprisonment.

The sentences will run concurrently. The judge also slapped a fine on each of them, but said that the amount would be decided later. The prosecution case was that an armed gang rescued Imam Ali and Hyder ali, accused in a couple of bomb explosion and murder cases, from custody at Tirumangalam police station near Madurai on March 7, 2002.

While escaping they had snatched a loaded AK 47 from police and fired indiscriminately from their guns. The gang also lobbed country bombs at police.

Their vehicle was traced to a point on Chintamani road by an Inspector. Though police opened fire, the gang retaliated and the inspector's vehicle was damaged.

While the Special Investigating Team arrested 37 accused, four persons, including Imam ali, Mangai Basheer, Mohammed Ibrahim and Seeniappa were killed in an encounter at Bangalore by the Special Task police on Sept 29, 2002.

One of the accused, Sikkander Badhusha, is still absconding. A total of 185 witnesses were examined and documentary evidence was produced in Court.