Phulbani (Orissa):
At least 12 persons were convicted and 46 others acquitted on Saturday in Kandhamal riot cases by separate fast track courts in Phulbani.
The courts pronounced the 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 Laxamananda Saraswati on August 23, 2008.
While disposing a case of house burning at Gresingia village in G Udaygiri area, judge S K Das sentenced two persons to two years imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 2,000 each. Twenty one others were acquitted in the case.
Similarly, seven other persons were sent to five years rigorous imprisonment and penalty of Rs 5,000 each after they were found guilty of setting fire on houses at Sidri village in Baliguda area.
Three persons were also sentenced three years of Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) and penalty of Rs 1,000 each for setting afire houses of minority community at village Kiramaha in G Udaygiri area. However, in another case of house burning incident at Rudangia, 15 persons were acquitted.
Judge C R Das, while disposing a murder case and a house burning case, acquitted 10 persons of the charges due to lack of evidence.