15 get three-year jail in Kandhamal riots case

Indo-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE

BHUBANESWAR - A fast track court Thursday sentenced 15 people to three-year rigorous imprisonment for burning several houses during the Kandhamal riots in 2008, a defence lawyer said.

Judge C.R. Das of the First Track Court-II, at the district headquarters of Phulbani, sentenced them for burning the houses of Banamali Digal and ten others in Soutikia village under Baliguda police station, Sep 26, 2008.

The court also asked them to pay a fine of Rs.4,500. If they do not pay (this) then they will have to undergo another seven months imprisonment, defence lawyer Ajit Patnaik told IANS over phone.

The same court acquitted four others in two other riot cases due to lack of evidence, he said.

Kandhamal, about 200 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, is considered communally-sensitive.

It 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