There was violence after J Jayalalitha was jailed for corruption

The girls died when a mob, allegedly comprising AIADMK party workers, set fire to a bus after their leader J Jayalalitha was jailed for corruption.

Jayalalitha maintains the violence was organised to discredit her party.

Twenty-eight men were found guilty of involvement in the incident, which happened in Dharmapuri district.

The court on Friday sentenced the other 25 men to seven years in prison for breaching peace and damaging public property.

Cases were filed against 31 men altogether. Two of them were acquitted while one man died during the trial.

Controversial

Jayalalitha, the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, is one of India's most colourful and controversial politicians.

A former actress, she has ruled the state as chief minister for several years and has been feted over the last 10 years by various Indian prime ministers requiring her political support to remain in power.

Her admirers say she has played a key role in the development of Tamil Nadu as one of India's most economically influential states.

The 58-year-old briefly spent time in prison prior to her conviction for corruption in October 2000.

Stories about her extravagance are legendary, and many of her worshipping followers are known to profess their loyalty through acts such as walking on hot coals or drawing her portrait with their blood.

Her ministers have on occasions been reported to prostrate themselves at her feet.