Ten sentenced for Orissa Kandhamal riots

(October 19, 2011) Ten people have been sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment by a fast track court in Phulbani, Orissa, India for their involvement in the 2008 anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal district. Additional sessions judge Sovan Kumar Das yesterday also slapped a fine of rupees 2,000 each on them. According to prosecution, the convicts were involved in torching of houses and rioting in Dalagaon village in September 2008 during the communal violence in the sensitive tribal-dominated district. Kandhamal had witnessed large scale violence in the aftermath of the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati in August 2008. The anti Christian riots led to the killing of several persons and thousands were left homeless. Several houses and churches were burnt.