Kandhamal riots: RI for 7 accused, 21 acquitted

Seven persons have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for two years by two fast-track courts in Phulbani for their involvement in the communal riots in Kandhamal district in 2008.

Twenty one others were acquitted by the fast track courts, which disposed off five cases of rioting, violence and house burning in the aftermath of the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Laxmanananda Saraswati in August, 2008.

Fast Track court-II judge C R Das on Wednesday sentenced seven persons to two years' rigorous imprisonment while disposing off two cases related to house burning and rioting in G Udayagiri and Raikia area, Special Counsel Pratap Patra said.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 2,500 on each convict, failing which they will have to serve an additional jail term for six months.

The court acquitted ten persons in a case involving house burning in Tikabali area due to the lack of proper evidence.

Similarly, Fast Track court-I Judge S K Das acquitted eleven persons while disposing off two cases related to house burning and rioting in Gochapada and G Udaygiri area of Kandhamal.

So far, 80 out of the 788 cases registered in connection with communal violence in Kandhamal in 2008 have been disposed off, official sources said.

As many as 101 persons have so far been convicted in these cases while 351 others were acquitted.