Dilshan murder case: Retired Army officer sentenced to life imprisonment

Chennai - A court in Chennai on Friday sentenced a retired Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Kandasamy Ramaraj to life imprisonment for murdering 13-year-old Dilshan in July  last year.

Dilshan was shot dead at the Island Grounds Army Residential complex, Chennai, while he was plucking almonds from a tree in the compound.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had ordered a Crime Branch probe into the matter. As there were no eyewitnesses, the police had to trace mobile phone signals to verify the movements and presence of officers in the Army quarters; investigators also used divers to recover the weapon that was allegedly used to kill Dilshan.

Police said Dilshan was shot in the head with a Springfield Rifle. Post-mortem reports also confirmed the teenager died from a bullet injury to the head.