Five sentenced in Kandhamal riots case

A fast track court in Odisha's Kandhamal district on Thursday sentenced five persons to rigorous imprisonment for two years in connection with the 2008 communal riots.

A fast track court in Odisha's Kandhamal district on Thursday sentenced five persons to rigorous imprisonment for two years in connection with the 2008 communal riots.

Fast track court-II judge Biranchi Narayan Mishra convicting the five persons also imposed Rs 5,000 fine on each of them and ordered additional jail term for six months in case of non-payment of penalty amount.

The court, however, acquitted two accused persons for lack of evidence.

HT Image

The seven people had been arrested for their involvement in rioting and burning down of houses at Nilungia village under G Udayagiri on August 24, 2008, a day after VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati was killed at his Jalaspeta ashram in the district.