|PIC1|Additional Sessions Judge Sobhan Kumar Das sentenced Sabita Pradhan, Papu Pradhan, Abinash Pradhan, Dharmaraj Pradhan and Mania Pradhan to life imprisonment on Wednesday, according to the Indo-Asian News Service.

The court in Phulbani found them guilty of killing Akbar Digal, a pastor of a Baptist church at Tatamaha village in Kandhamal on 26 August last year.

The anti-Christian violence broke out in Orissa after a Hindu fundamentalist - Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Laxmananda Saraswati - was murdered in August 2008. Hindus blamed Christians for killing Saraswati even though Maoist rebels had publicly claimed responsibility for the murder.

Following the swami’s death, Hindu mobs attacked Christians, burning their homes, shops, churches and orphanages. More than 30,000 Christians from Orissa were forced to take shelter in refugee camps out of fear of further attacks.

About 4,500 Christian homes were burned and 180 churches destroyed. At least 60 Christians were killed, according to the Orissa government’s report, but church leaders in Orissa report higher figures and have accused the government of intentionally undercounting the number of deaths.

As many as 10,000 people were named in 827 cases registered during the August riots. Chargesheets have already been filed in 437 cases and investigations are ongoing in another 354 cases, including the rape of a nun.

Two fast track courts were set up by the government to try cases related to the violence. The latest sentences bring to 17 the number of people convicted over the Kandhamal riots, which broke out last August. Twelve people were previously sentenced to rigorous imprisonment ranging from four to six years but this is the first time the court has passed life sentences.

The two fast track courts are expected to deliver more verdicts in the coming days.