Kandhamal riots: BJP MLA sentenced to 7 years in jail

PHULBANI (ORISSA): A sitting BJP MLA Manoj Pradhan was on Tuesday sentenced to seven years in jail by a fast track court in a case of murder during the 2008 communal riots in Kandhamal in Orissa.

Fast track court-I judge S K Das awarded the seven year rigorous imprisonment to Pradhan after convicting him for his role in the murder of Parikhita Digal, a Christian from Budedi village under Raikia police station limit on August 27, 2008.

Pradhan, who represents the communally sensitive G Udayagiri assembly constituency in Kandhamal, was also accused of setting on fire houses of people belonging to the minority community and inciting communal violence.

Pradhan, currently on bail, said he will appeal against the verdict which is likely to come as an embarrassment to the BJP.

A case was registered against Pradhan under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence), 302 (murder), 341 (wrongfully restraining someone), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy houses etc) of IPC.

"I have the highest regard for the judiciary. We will appeal against the verdict in the higher court," Pradhan said.

The court convicted another person Prafulla Mallick in the murder case and also sentenced him to seven-year rigorous imprisonment.

Both Pradhan and Mallick were also ordered to pay a fine of Rs 6,000 each.

Pradhan, earlier acquitted in seven cases relating to the Kandhamal riots, is still being tried in seven other cases including three relating to murder.