A Fast track court here today acquitted nine persons accused of indulging communal violence in Kandhamal district in 2008.
Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court No.1), Phulbani, Sovana Kumar Das acquitted the accused due to lack of evidence.
The nine belonged to Baraganda village under Gochapara police station and were arrested on charges of house torching, unlawful assembly and other charges under Riots Act consequent upon the riots in 2008.
Altogether 891 cases had been registered in connection with the riots in the district of which 129 cases disposed of so far.
In all, 162 persons were convicted, five facing life sentences, while 682 persons were acquitted.
