Bail expires, riot-accused surrenders before court

With the expiry of his bail period, prime accused in Kandhamal violence Manoj Kumar Pradhan, surrendered before a local court on Friday

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator was given a bail by the High Court on July 6. During the period he also took oath as a member of the Orissa Assembly.

On July 17, after the completion of his bail period, Pradhan pleaded for an extension. The court extended his bail for another 15 days.

Pradhan was arrested during the peak of violence last October in the aftermath of Swami Laxmananda's murder.

He later contested for an election from jail and won the assembly polls from G. Udaygiri seat. He is one of six BJP MLA's in the 147-member House.

Pradhan has at least 14 criminal cases including seven charges of murder charged on him.

Meanwhile, a fast track court has freed 16 people who were accused of setting fire to a police outpost and also for killing a policeman during last year's violence.

The fast track court of Phulbani acquitted all the 16 on Friday for lack of evidence.

"The chargesheet had been submitted against 111 people in the case. Sixteen people had been brought for trial Friday. All of them have been let off for of evidence. Many of the witnesses remained absent Friday and those who came failed to identify the culprits," IANS quoted P.K. Patra, additional public prosecutor, as saying.

The Gochhipada police outpost was torched and constable Bibhudenra Biswal was killed by a mob Sep 15, 2008.