Kandhamal riots: 13 convicted

PHULBANI: Two Fast Track Courts in Kandhamal convicted 13 and acquitted 45 persons in the 2008 Kandhamal riots case. Verdicts for five different cases related to the riots were declared on Thursday. Fast Track Court No I Judge Sovan Das awarded three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1000 each to 13 persons in different cases. Three persons were awarded three months rigorous imprisonment for setting houses on fire. All the seven accused of setting afire the house of Sukeswar Digal were acquitted for lack of evidence. In Fast Track Court No II, Judge Biranchi Narayan Mishra acquitted one person of charges of setting afire Aggrani Janakalyan Organisation at Beradikia under Raikia police limits.