CNI Welcomes the Judgment of Fast Track Court, on Kandhamal Riots 2008

The Church of North India welcomes the decision of the Fast Track Court of Phulbani which has awarded 7 years Rigorous Imprisonment to the sitting BJP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Orissa, Manoj Pradhan, the prime accused in the killing of Christians in Kandhamal. The Fast Track Court was established to deliver justice to the victims of communal violence erupted in the aftermath of the killing of VHP Leader Swami Lakhsanananda Saraswati and four of his aides in August 2008 following which many Christians were killed by Hindu extremists. Manoj Pradhan was accused of killing Late Arakhita Nayak an evangelist from village Tiangia in Kandhamal on 27th August 2008. With the help of many Christian advocates and legal experts his wife Mrs. Kanaka Rekha Nayak lodged the FIR and along with his daughter fearlessly provided evidences and finally justice has prevailed.

Earlier Manoj Pradhan was acquitted in 3 different cases by the First Track Court. Criminal Case Revision has been filed for the same in the Orissa High Court and is being followed up by our Christian brothers and sisters in Orissa. Mr. BD Das, an Advocate in Orissa High Court and a member of CNI has been actively involved in the whole process ensuring justice to the suffering and persecuted people of Kandhamal. We have full faith in the Judiciary and we demand immediate arrest of the master-mind – said Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary of the Church of North India.