Kottayam (PTI): A special court on Thursday sentenced two students to ten years rigorous imprisonment and another to three years RI in the sensational 'School of Medical Education ragging case' in which a first-year girl student was sexually assaulted in the name of ragging in October 2005.

Judge K Sasidharan Nair also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 each on the first two and Rs 5,000 on the third. If the first two accused fail to pay the fine they will have to undergo one more year imprisonment, the judge said, pronouncing the sentence.

The judge said out of the amount a sum of Rs 25,000 should be given to the girl as compensation.

According to the prosecution, a total of nine persons were found accused in the case.

Renjith Varghese, Sherin and Shaffeq Yusuf were convicted under various sections, including ragging prevention act, gang rape, outraging modesty of a woman and illegal confinement, among others.

The court yesterday acquitted Ashley Varghese, Robin Paul and Dibin Philip (SME students), K M Mariam, who was then SME principal, Muraleedharan Nair, former SME director, and Saibuneesa Beevi, former head of department of Psychiatry, Kottayam Medical College.