COIMBATORE: The Mahila court has sentenced a 37-year-old man to 2-years RI on Tuesday for attempting to rape a minor girl at Puliyakulam in the city in 2007. J Francis Xavier (37) from Narayanasamy Street at Puliyakulam in the city, was working at a foundry here. His wife was admitted at a hospital for delivery in February 2007.

On February 14, 2007, a six-year-old girl studying class I,

was playing near the house. He took the girl inside and attempted to rape her. The child raised an alarm. She was released immediately by Francis Xavier who threatened her with dire consequencesif she spoke about the incident to anyone

. However, the girl told her mother about it. A case was registered against Francis by all women police station at Ramanathapuram in the city. He was arrested immediately and later came out on bail. The case trial came up for hearing in the Mahila court. Public prosecutor R Sarojini had demanded severe punishment for the accused.

Mahila court judge MP Subramanian delivered the verdict on Tuesday and sentenced Francis to two years RI and slapped a fine of Rs10,000 for attempt to rape and six months RI and Rs3,000 for criminal intimidation.

Farmer trampled: A farmer was trampled to death by a wild elephant on Monday night near Kandavayal at Sirumugai forest range in Coimbatore district. The deceased has been identified as Kalisamy (50) from Lingapuram near Sirumugai. Police said, on Monday night, a wild elephant crossed his agriculture field destroying all the plantain crops. Kalisamy and other farmers started chasing away the elephant by bursting crackers. On his way back, Kalisamy was trampled by the wild elephant.

Man held for selling ganja: A 28-year-old man was arrested on Monday for trying to sell half kg ganja near Karattumedu on Coimbatore-Sathy road. The accused has been identified as Karuppasamy. The court said both sentences would run concurrently.