M A I N   N E W S

Kandhamal: 7-year jail for BJP MLA

Phulbani (Orissa), June 29
Sitting BJP MLA Manoj Pradhan was today sentenced to a seven-year rigorous imprisonment by a fast-track court in a case of murder during the 2008 communal riots in Kandhamal in Orissa.

Fast-track court-I judge SK Das awarded the sentence to Pradhan after convicting him for his role in the murder of Parikhita Digal, a Christian from Budedi village, under the 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 would appeal against the verdict, likely to come as an embarrassment to the BJP. "I have the highest regard for the judiciary. We will appeal against the verdict in the higher court," Pradhan said. — PTI