Nine persons convicted in Kandhamal riot case

Phulbani: A local court here on Thursday convicted nine persons and acquitted three others for their alleged involvement in a case of murder and house burning during Kandhamal riot in 2008.

Fast Track Court-II judge C R Das sentenced three years imprisonment and penalty of Rs 5,000 each to nine persons after finding their involvement in the killing of Ajiba Digal of Rugudi Sahi under Barakhama police outpost in Baliguda police station jurisdiction.

The mob, in the aftermath of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati`s killing, set fire on house of Digal and attacked him on August 26, 2008. Subsequently, Digal succumbed to injuries, police said.

While convicting nine persons, the court acquitted three others for not having clear evidence of their involvement, a government advocate said.

The court also said that the convicted persons would undergo imprisonment for four more months in case penalty was not realised.