PHULBANI (ORISSA): A fast track court today sentenced two persons to six years rigorous imprisonment for killing a polio-stricken man during Kandamal riots in 2008.
Fast track court-I judge S K Das convicted Susant Sahu and Mrutunjay Sahu under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of IPC.
They were also fined Rs 5500 for the killing of Rasananda Pradhan, a Christian afflicted with polio, during rioting on August 24, 2008 at Rupa village under Tikabali police station area in Kandhamal district, a day after the killing of the VHP leader Swami Laxamanda Saraswati.
The police recovered the charred body of Pradhan about a fortnight after his killing.
While all the members of the villagers fled from their houses, Rasananda could not. His family members fled to the state capital to take shelter.
Welcoming the judgement, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar diocese Rahpeal Cheenath said "this has helped people to have faith in the judiciary."
Meanwhile, Fast Track court-II, Phulbani, Judge C R Das acquitted 20 persons while disposing of two cases relating to the torching of houses on August 25, 2008, at Bapalamendi and Hatapadasahi villages.
Of the total 891 riot cases, the two fast track courts have so far disposed of 201 cases convicting 152 persons and acquitting 656.
