Five Convicted in Kandhmal Riot Cases

The Fast Track Court in Phulbani sentenced five persons to six years rigorous imprisonment each for their involvement in last years riots in Kandhamal district of Orissa. Fast Track Court – O Judge S. K. Das also imposed a fine of Rs. 5,000 each on the convicts.

The Fast Track Court set up at Phulbani in the district to try riot cases held these people guilty of attacking minority community members and setting their houses on fire during months-long communal violence. Those convicted were Bisara Kanhr, Durbasa Kanhr, Rabi Kanhr, Gupteswar Kanhr and Naresh Kanhr. They hailed from Salguda village under Gochhapada police station in the district assistant public prosecutor Bijoy Kumar Patnaik said. The convicts were also given an imprisonment for two years in a separate case of assembling in an unlawful manner along with weapons

Two accused namely Umesh Kanhara and Sukdev Kanhara were acquitted for lack of evidence in the case of relating to attacking and torching of houses of minority members of September 13, 2008. However one accused person died inside the jail and another accused died in the village prior to the arrest in this case. 

Kandhmal district had witnessed widespread communal violence after the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmanand Saraswati on August 23, last year. At least 41 people were killed and thousands rendered homeless in the fourth month long violence drawing international attention. Around 25,000 people were forced to flee their homes to take shelter in 13 relief camps set up in different parts of the district. Hundreds of families also fled to other states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra to escape the rampaging mobs. Most of them are yet to come back to their native villages fearing fresh attacks.

Meanwhile, one more relief camp in Kandhamal district has been closed down. “The relief camp at Tikabali was wound up on July 26, 2009. Nearly 100 riot-hit people, who were in the camp, were sent back to their homes”, Kandhamal district collector Krishan Kumar said. Two more relief camps at Mandakia and Tiangia were giving shelter to around 700 people. The D.M also said that they are also planning to shut down these two camps soon by persuading the inmates to return to their villages.