BJP legislator among 14 acquitted in Kandhamal riot case

Bhubaneswar, March 20 : A fast track court in Orissa's Kandhamal district Saturday acquitted 14 people, including a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, in a Kandhamal riot case, an official said.

"Fourteen people have been acquitted in the case," public prosecutor Bijay Pattnaik said.

BJP legislator Manoj Pradhan and 13 others were acquitted in absence of evidence against them.

"The judge acquitted all of them for want of evidence and the charges could not be proved," said Ajit Pattnaik, counsel for Pradhan.

Arson cases were filed against the 14 men August 25, 2008, by Sushant Dalbehera of Dadingia village.

The BJP legislator is an accused in six more cases of rioting and arson in Kandhamal district.

Kandhamal district, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23, 2008.

More than 25,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs that held Christians responsible for Saraswati's killing, although police blamed the Maoists.