Tight Security In Kandhamal Ahead Of Swami Laxmanananda’s Death Anniv

Phulbani: Security has been tightened in Kandhamal district for Viswa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati’s tenth death anniversary, which coincides with Janmastami celebrations.

“Adequate police personnel will be deployed near Chakapada and Jalespata ashrams of Swami Laxmanananda where events are being organised to commemorate his death anniversary tomorrow. The vehicles coming to the district are being checked and security has been intensified at all sensitive locations and forest areas to avert subversive activities by Maoists,” Kandhamal SP Pratik Singh informed.

Nine platoons of police force have been deployed at various places of the district, he added.

Meanwhile, preparation of celebrations for both Janmastami and Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati’s 10th death anniversary are underway at various places of the district.

“Seers from different parts of the district and outside will participate in the yajna and public meetings scheduled to be held tomorrow morning,” said VHP member Priyanath Sharma.

On August 23, 2008, the seer along with his four associates were gunned downed at his Jalaspata Ashram  by an armed group during Janmashtami festival celebrations allegedly for spreading hatred in the district.

Following his death, the district had witnessed the worst communal mayhem in Odisha’s history. At least 39 persons were killed and around 1,445 houses reduced to ashes. Another 1,357 houses were partly damaged.

The state government had given Rs 50,000 to the homeless people and Rs 20,000 to the people, whose houses were damaged partly.

The family members of each deceased received Rs 5 lakh, of which the central government had contributed Rs 2 lakh and state government Rs 3 lakh.

Later, the Supreme Court directed the Odisha government to pay additional compensation to the victims of the violence in the district. A bench, comprising the then Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice U Lalit, said that the the compensation given earlier  to the victims of the communal strife was inadequate.

The state government had then given additional Rs 3 lakh ex-gratia each to the family of those killed in the riot. A judicial commission was also constituted to investigate the incident.