Trial in Kandhamal church priest attack case resumes

Trial in the attempt to murder of the Baliguda Catholic Church priest Thomas Chelathin during the Kandhamal riots of 2008 resumed at the district sessions court here today.
One of the key witnesses in the case, a nun of the church concerned, was examined by the prosecution.
Due to paucity of time, the defence examination of the witness is fixed for Wednesday.
The state crime branch police had registered the case in which at least 23 people were arrested.
On the day, during the cross examination of the nun, she was asked to identify from among the accused, who were produced in the court.

The priest had in 2009 failed to identify any of the accused during test identification parade held at Choudwar jail.

Although, the crime branch police had registered several cases after riots broke out, barring the sensational nun rape case and the case of murder attempt on the priest, the remaining cases were tried by the courts in Kandhamal. Following the Orissa High Court order, these two cases were shifted here for trial.
After holding marathon trial in the nun rape case, the Cuttack court in March 2014 had convicted one person for rape and found two others guilty of outraging the modesty of the victim.

The court had also acquitted six others arrested in the case for want of substantial evidence.