29 January 2004 :

Terming them as a "threat and grave danger to the society at large," the Indian Supreme Court sentenced to death four members of the forest brigand Veerappan's gang for killing 22 policemen and injuring 14 others in a landmine blast in Karnataka in April, 1993. "The appellants are a threat and grave danger to the society at large....It would be a mockery of justice if extreme punishment is not imposed", a Division Bench composed of Justices Y K Sabharwal and B N Agrawal said when converting the life sentences of Simon, Gnana Prakash, Madhiah and Bilavendra into capital punishment. The four had originally been sentenced by a Prevention of Terrorism Act (TADA) court in Karnataka.