Kandhamal riots case: Man gets three-year jail term

BHUBANESWAR - A fast track court in Orissa Tuesday sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment a man accused of burning a house during the 2008 Kandhamal riots, a lawyer said.

Judge C.R. Das of a fast track court at the district headquarters of Phulbani, sentenced Srikanta Pradhan to three years of imprisonment for his role in the burning of the house of Brahmapati Digal at Dakingia village Sep 18, 2008.

The court also asked him to pay a fine of Rs.4,500. If he does not pay, he will have to undergo seven months of additional imprisonment, defence lawyer Ajit Patnaik told IANS over phone.

Pronouncing his judgment in a separate riots case, Sovan Kumar Das of the another fast track court acquitted 10 people due to lack of evidence in a case related to the communal riots which took place in the district in December 2007. They were accused of burning a government office at Khajuripada town Dec 25, 2007.

Kandhamal, about 200 km from Bhubaneswar, witnessed widespread violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23, 2008.

At least 38 people were killed and more than 25,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by mobs that held Christians responsible for Saraswati’s killing, although the police blamed the Maoists.