President rejects mercy pleas of Veerappan aides

President Pranab Mukherjee has rejected the mercy pleas of four associates of late forest brigand Veerappan. The four men Gnanprakasham, Simon, Meesekar Madaiah and Bilavendran were sentenced to death for killing 22 people, including policemen, in Palar landmine blast case in 1993.