BJP MLA from Kondhamal convicted, sent to jail

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K. Sudhakar Patnaik

30 June, 2010

According to the prosecution, Pradhan and Mallick were part of the mob that dragged Digal and killed him. The body of Digal was later burnt down. A case was registered against Pradhan, Mallick and others for murder, destroying evidence, rioting.

BJP MLA Manoj Pradhan representing G Udayagiri Assembly Constituency under Kondhamal District of Odisha State was convicted by the Fast Track Court on Tuesday last to seven years rigorous imprisonment for his alleged involvement during 2008 communal riots.

Within hours of the judgment, Pradhan was sent to jail. Another co accused Prafulla Mallick got similar punishment on Tuesday last. The case pertains to the killing of one Parikhita Digal at Budipada of Baripengu village under Raikia Police station limits on August 27, 2008 during the riots triggered by the assassination of Viswa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxmana Nanda Saraswati.

According to the prosecution, Pradhan and Mallick were part of the mob that dragged Digal and killed him. The body of Digal was later burnt down. A case was registered against Pradhan, Mallick and others for murder, destroying evidence, rioting and unlawful assembly. During the trial the charge of murder couldn’t be established against both but some other charges were upheld.

Pradhan was taken into custody after one year of this incident at Bramhapur. Pradhan was elected in 2009 with BJP ticket when he was inside the jail and later granted bail by the High Court.
Again after pronouncing the judgment on Tuesday once again he was sent to jail and now at present the G. Udayagiri assembly segment people have got no peoples representative to represent their difficulties. There are as many twenty other cases are also pending against him the police sources said.

The Kondhamal in famous communal riots dragged National and International human right activists and other activists too. The Naveen Patnaik Government not allowed even single Viswa Hindu Parishad leader to enter inside Kondhamal District but quit surprisingly allowed foreign nationals even providing security in side the district.