Four activists of the banned Al-Umma outfit have been sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment by a court in this district on various charges, including smuggling explosives and arms in 1992.

Kovilpatti Sub-Court Judge Manjula on Wednesday convicted the four of attempt to murder, robbery, possessing and smuggling explosives and cheating. A fine of Rs 25,000 each was also imposed on them. The sentences would, however, run concurrently.

In all, five persons -- Imam Ali, Hyder Ali, an associate of Imam Ali, Mohammed Abdul Khader, Zaheer Hussain and Abdul Muthaleef -- were named as the accused in the case.

While Imam Ali, a hardcore militant, was killed in an counter with the police in Bangalore in 2002, Hyder Ali is lodged at the Madurai Central Prison and the other three are out on bail.

They were found guilty of hijacking a taxi, which had been engaged from Thiruvananthapuram, after assaulting the driver and then smuggling arms and explosives in the same vehicle.

According to the prosecution, the five had engaged a taxi at Thiruvananthapuram on October 29, 1992 and later hijacked the car after assaulting the driver.

Later they hit the car against a culvert on the Ettayapuram Road at Kovilpatti. Despite being injured, they managed to escape from the spot.

A police case was registered following a complaint from the driver. During investigation police found that the car was loaded with explosives and arms.