Phulbani (Orissa): A fast track court here on Saturday aquitted nine persons accused of indulging communal violence in Kandhamal district in 2008.
The additional sessions judge (fast track court No.1), Phulbani, Sovana Kumar Das, aquitted the accused due to lack of evidence.
The nine are from Baraganda village under Gochapara police station and were arrested on charges of house torching, unlawful assembly and other charges under the Riots Act consequent upon the riots in 2008.
Altogether 891 cases had been registered in connection with the riots in the district of which 129 cases have been disposed of so far. In all, 162 persons were convicted including five lifers while 682 persons were acquitted.