Twelve people were convicted and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for five years while 75 others acquitted today in three separate cases relating to the communal riot in Kandhamal.

The three cases were disposed by two fast track courts here.

While judge S K Das sentenced 12 people to five years rigorous imprisonment and penalty of Rs 3,000 each for their involvement in house burning incidents at Chatijhara village under Tikabali police station, five others were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

In another case involving burning of a church at Sasalanda village under Phulbani Sadar Police Station, judge Das acquitted all the 64 persons due to lack of evidence.

The other court acquitted six persons allegedly involved in a house burning incident at Drakinga village under G Udaygiri police station area. The prosecution failed to arrange evidence against them.

All the cases were registered at three different police stations during the Kandhamal riot in 2008.