Phulbani:(Orissa) A Fast Track court here on acquitted nine persons in a case relating to communal riots in Kandhamal in 2008.

Additional Sessions Judge of the fast track court-II, Chittaranjan Das acquitted the nine persons, who had been arrested in Tikabali area for various offences including arson, due to lack of evidence.

The main charge against them was torching of a church on August 28, 2008 at Beladevi village under Tikabali police station.