Bhubaneswar, Dec 22 (Inditop.com) A fast track court Tuesday acquitted five people in a Kandhamal riot case, an official said.
The five were acquitted in a case of arson in K Nuagaon village under Baliguda police station area. “Though the witnesses acknowledged the destruction and burning of house, they could not recognize the perpetrator. All the accused have been let off in the case for want of evidence,” said public prosecutor P.K. Patra.
Cases were filed against five people under section 147, 148, 427, 436 of the Indian Penal Code on Aug 25, 2008. The cases were filed by Simanchal Nayak and Padma Charan Nayak.
The judgement was pronounced by Fast Track court-II judge Chitta Ranjan Das.
Kandhamal district, about 200 km from here, 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 last year.
More than 25,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs, which held Christians responsible for Saraswati’s killing, although police blamed the Maoists.
The government has set up two fast track courts to try cases related to the communal violence.
