Seven Christians convicted for Laxmananda murder

Two additional suspects are expected to be handed verdicts today.

(Photo Courtesy: wikipedia)

Bhubaneswar:  A district court in Orissa state today convicted seven Christians of the murder of Hindu leader Swami Laxmananada and four disciples in 2008, killings that ignited anti-Christian violence that claimed about 100 lives.

The court in Phulbani town found the seven defendants guilty of conspiracy and murder of the five, including one woman, in the predominantly tribal Kandhamal district. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Thursday.

Two additional suspects are expected to be handed verdicts on Tuesday.

Human rights activists expressed dismay over the verdict, saying that it contradicted evidence that they had gathered following the killings and the subsequent riots.

“This is shocking and unbelievable,” said rights activist Fr Ajay Singh, based in the state capital of Bhubaneswar.

Raj Kishore Pradhan, a lawyer representing the seven defendants, said an appeal will be filed with in a higher court, since the evidence against his clients could not conclusively prove they were linked in any way to the killing of the Swami and his followers.

“Only after we see the court papers will we know how the court reached its conclusions,” Pradhan told ucanews.com on Monday.

Fr Dibya Parricha, a lawyer who has worked on court cases relating to the 2008 riots, noted that the seven suspects were convicted under different criminal provisions, including rioting with deadly weapons and unlawful assembly.

“We will appeal in the High Court after the sentencing has been announced. We have full faith in the Indian judiciary that it will take extra care not to punish the innocent,” he said.

“We are determined to move even to the highest court to secure justice for these poor people,” he added.

The killings of Swami Laxmananada and his followers sparked violent riots after Hindu nationalists blamed the deaths on local Christians, despite claims of responsibility for the killings by Maoist rebels operating in the area.

Frenzied mobs burned down houses, churches and convents, and attacked local Christian residents. Nearly 100 people were killed and about 50,000 displaced by the violence.

Source: ucan