A local court in Orissa acquitted three tribal men who were arrested for alleged involvement in during Kandhamal riot. S K Das, additional sessions judge acquitted them due to lack of evidence on Wednesday. They were Umesh Pradhan, Senapaty Pradhan and Tidinga Pradhan, all belong to Sulesaru village in Tikabali police station.

The three had allegedly set fire to some houses of a particular community in their village during the riots, the prosecution said.

In this connection, an FIR was lodged by Ludura Digal in Tikabali police station and the three accused were arrested. With the acquittal of these three, 49 persons have so far been acquitted and 13 persons convicted in connection with 15 riot-related cases by two fast track courts here.

Eight hundred and fourty-five persons were arrested in connection with 827 cases registered during the riots.