Mangaluru: The two accused in the Candle Santhu murder case were sentenced to life imprisonment and fine one lakh rupees each by the fourth additional session court here on Friday.

The sentenced convicts have been identified as Iqbal Kavoor and Farook Karkal, who were in judicial custody till date.

On February 18, 2009, Candle Santhu, who in the past, had been identified with Polali Ananthu gang, was murdered near his house. The miscreants had come in a car which they had abandoned by the side of Adyar rivulet, four days later. The police investigation, had named 12 persons as accused including Madoor Isubu, Madoor Ismail, Suleiman, Muhammed Kabir, Abbas Bantwal, Isac Bantwal and Habeed.

Of the accused, Madoor Isubu was murdered in prison while Madoor Ismail died of a heart attack. Another accused Sulaiman from Kukkundur was murdered at Karkala while Muhammed Kabir from Vamanjoor was killed at Vamanjoor. The police is yet to arrest three other accused including Abbas Bantwal, Isac Bantwal and Habeed.

The then Bantwal rural police station circle inspector Nanjunde Gowda and staff who handled the case were congratulated by SP B R Ravikanthe Gowda and a suitable reward was announced for them.