12 convicted, 46 acquitted in Kandhamal riot cases

A tribal woman, supporting Kandhamal victims, holds placard while participating in a rally in Bhubaneswar. Fast track courts delivered verdict on Kandhamal riots on Saturday. File Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

At least 12 persons were convicted and 46 others acquitted in riot related cases by separate fast track courts in Kandhamal on Saturday.

Judges of the fast track court-I and II pronounced judgements while disposing six different cases relating to house burning and a murder incident during the ethno-communal riot in Kandhamal in 2008.

At least 38 persons were killed and over 4,800 houses and churches were damaged during the riot that took place in the aftermath of the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati on August 23, 2008.

While disposing a case of house burning at Gresingia village under G Udaygiri police station area, the fast track court judge S.K. Das sentenced two persons to two years imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 2,000 each after convicting them. Ten were acquitted for lack of evidence.

Twenty-one others were acquitted in the case.

Similarly, seven other persons were sentenced five years rigorous imprisonment and penalty of Rs 5,000 each after they were found guilty of setting fire on houses at Sidri village under Baliguda police station area during the riot.

Three persons were also sentenced three years RI and penalty of Rs 1,000 each for setting fire on houses of minority community at village Kiramaha under G Udaygiri police station area. However, in another case of house burning incident at Rudangia, 15 persons were acquitted.