52 acquitted in eight Kandhamal riot cases
February 28th, 2010 - 1:21 pm ICT by IANSBhubaneswar, Feb 28 (IANS) Fifty two people have been acquitted in eight separate cases of rioting in Orissa’s Kandhamal district in 2008, an official said Sunday.
“Fifty two people were acquitted in eight separate cases late Saturday. Two cases were heard in fast track court-I and six cases were heard in fast track court-II. They were acquitted for want of evidence,” said public prosecutor P.K. Patra.
Out of the eight, seven cases were of arson and one of torching a police outpost in Balandapada on Aug 26, 2008.
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 that 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.
- Nine get jail, one acquitted in Kandhamal riots case - Mar 16, 2010
- Nine convicted, five acquitted in Kandhamal riots case - Nov 18, 2009
- 13 convicted, 35 acquitted in three Kandhamal riot cases (Lead) - Jan 31, 2010
- On Christmas eve, three convicted, 26 let off for Kandhamal - Dec 25, 2009
- Five let off in a Kandhamal riot case - Dec 22, 2009
- 11 convicted, 17 acquitted in Kandhamal riot case - Jan 30, 2010
- 15 get three-year jail in Kandhamal riots case - Sep 30, 2010
- Seventeen acquitted in a Kandhamal riot case - Apr 17, 2010
- 8 get three-year jail in Kandhamal riots case - Sep 25, 2010
- One gets four-year jail in Kandhamal riots case - Jan 29, 2010
- BJP legislator among 14 acquitted in Kandhamal riot case - Mar 20, 2010
- Three more convicted for Kandhamal riots - Dec 24, 2009
- Five convicted in a Kandhamal riot case - Dec 12, 2009
- Two convicted, 10 acquitted in Kandhamal riots cases - Apr 01, 2010
- 12 convicted, two let off in Kandhamal riot case - Nov 28, 2009
Tags: aides, arson, ashram, christians, communal violence, fast track, maoists, mobs, orissa, police outpost, public prosecutor, riot, saraswati, swami, vishwa hindu parishad