Bhubaneswar, Jan 29 (Inditop.com) A fast track court Friday sentenced a person to four years’ imprisonment in a Kandhamal riots case.
“One person named T. Pradhan has been convicted in a riot case for torching the house of Anama Chandra Nayak of Damakupa village under Tikabali police station on 25th August, 2008,” P.K. Patra, the public prosecutor told reporters after the verdict was announced.
Pradhan has been sentenced to a four-year jail term and a fine of Rs.2,500. He has been convicted under sections 436 (mischief by fire with intent to destroy house etc.) and 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon) of the Indian Penal Code.
The judgment was pronounced by Fast Track Court-II judge Chitta Ranjan Das. However, another accused was acquited in the case for want of evidence.
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, 2008.
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.
