Kandhamal riots case: Court sentences 13 to 5-year imprisonment

A fast track court in Orissa sentenced 13 people to five years imprisonment today for their involvement in 2008 Kandhamal riots.

Additional sessions judge of Fast Track Court-II, Biranchi Narayan Mishra, while convicting the 13, also imposed a penalty of Rs 2,000 on each.

According to the prosecution, the convicts were involved in rioting, arson and torching of houses in Sartaguda village under Tikabali police station in September, 2008 after the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.

In another judgement, the court acquitted 12 people who had been arrested by Phiringia police on charges of unlawful assembly with deadly weapons in Sripalla village on December 30, 2007.

The area witnessed violence in December 2007.