Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, four others shot dead

[suchandra]

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, four others shot dead

 

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/vishwa-hindu-parishad-leader-four-others-shot-dead_10087864.html

 

August 24th, 2008 - 1:12 am ICT by IANS <!-- Email to friend --> - Email This Post

Bhubaneswar, Aug 23 (IANS) At least five people, including a top leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), were shot dead in an ashram in Orissa’s Kandhamal district by an armed group during Janmashtami festival celebrations Saturday, the police said.Over 20 armed people attacked at the ashram at Jalespata village, some 340 km from here, at about 8 p.m. and started firing.

“Five persons were killed. They include Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati,” Gopal Chandra Nanda, state director general of police, told IANS.

The dead include Swami Amrutananda, a woman and a boy, he said.

The police could not confirm whether the attackers were Maoist guerrillas.

Saraswati was a senior VHP leader.

The police have clamped orders prohibiting the gathering of four or more people in the entire district.

After hearing the news of the killings, thousands of people blocked roads in several places of the state.

[suchandra]

"Swami demanded a high level probe into illegal beef trading in Kandhamal. VHP has also called Kandhamal bandh on Wednesday over this issue."

 

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, 4 others killed in grenade attack in Orissa

By our Correspondent

Last updated: 08/24/2008 09:16:09

http://www.odishatoday.com/Orissa/laxmanananda_shot_dead_54215867952487513-250808.html

 

Bhubaneswar ( Orissa) : In a ssational incident Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and fouenr of his close aids have been killed in a grenade attack by the suspected Maoists at around 9 PM at Jalaspotta Ashram, in Tumudi Bandh area in the tribal dominated district of Kandhamal in Southern Orissa on Saturday night.

 

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati

 

According to the sources the suspected Maoist have hurled grenade on the Ashram resulting killing of five persons including Ashram chief, Swami Laxmananand Saraswati.

 

The other victims include two inmates of the ashram and all the victims have dead at the spot.

 

RSS has decided to block all NH running through the Orissa as mark of protest over the killing on Saturday night, sources said.

 

Meanwhile RDC Southern range Satyabrta Sahu, DIG Southern range, RP Kothe have rushed to the spot as the tension flare up in the district following this incident.

 

Additional security forces 12 CRPF platoon have also been moved to the spot to prevent any unpleasant incident in the district.

 

According to the sources in the police administration, the Orissa DG Gopal Nanda directly monitoring the whole situation.

 

Meanwhile in yet another significant development highly placed sources in the VHP says that VHP and other saffon outfits have called a emergency meeting at undisclosed place to decide future action over this issue.

 

VHP and other saffron partied have called a dawn to dush Bandh on Monday protesting the brutal killing of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati.

 

It may be noted here that the tribal dominated Southern district of Orissa has been under serious tension since Hindu and Christians clashed each other on December 25, 2007 in Phulbani district.

 

Since then, Central Para Military Forces have been camping at Kandhamal. Orissa Government has constituted a judicial commission under Justice Basudev Panigrahi to probe the December communal clash.

 

In protest against the attack on saint and illegal beef trading, members of RSS, Viswa Hindu Parishad and Bharatiya Janata Party led by Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati blocked the roads and demanding action against the accused.

 

Swami demanded a high level probe into illegal beef trading in Kandhamal. VHP has also called Kandhamal bandh on Wednesday over this issue.

[suchandra]

<table width="450" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="headline">

Anti-conversion swami, 4 others shot dead</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news"> <table width="450" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="news" colspan="3">

Subhasis Mohanty | Bhubaneswar

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" valign="top">http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front_page&file_name=story3.txt&counter_img=3

Late night attack on ashram in Orissa's Kandhamal

 

Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, the 80-year-old monk who spearheaded the anti-conversion movement in Orissa's tribal dominated areas for decades, was shot dead at his Jalespata Ashram under Tumudibandha block in Kandhamal district late Saturday night. </td> <td class="news" valign="top" width="5"> </td> <td width="100" align="right">

</td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">Reports reaching Bhubaneswar said a group of 20 to 25 people, armed with guns, barged into the ashram at 9.35 pm and attacked him. They lobbed a hand-grenade and fired indiscriminately. Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and four others who lived in the ashram died on the spot. Among them was a woman.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">Director-General of Police Gopal Nanda confirmed the murderous attack on Swami Laxmananda Saraswati's ashram. The police suspect the killers to be Maoists. The district administration has mobilised police force and rushed CRPF companies to the spot. The District Collector and the SP have also rushed to Tumudibandha to take stock of the situation.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">Widescale violence is feared in Orissa. People have started resorting to road blockade to ventilate their anger in different parts of the State. People in Dhenkanal district came out openly and blocked the roads.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">An alert has been issued and all District Collectors have been asked to maintain strict vigil.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">Swami Laxmananda Saraswati had received a letter, threatening that he would be kidnapped from his Chakapada Ashram in Kandhamal district in the next seven days. Ashram authorities received the letter on Friday. It had been posted from Barinipur post office.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">They also filed an FIR on Friday. The letter-writer had identified himself as a member of the 'Pahari Group'.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">Viswa Hindu Parishad general secretary Gouri Prasad Rath had subsequently sought increased security cover for Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">Before the police could react, he was shot dead.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">Swami Laxmananda Saraswati came to tribal-dominated Kandhamal in 1966. Since then he has been leading a campaign against conversion activities of Christian missionaries. He has also been in the forefront of the campaign against cow-slaughter. It was because of his sustained efforts that thousands of tribals who had embraced Christianity returned to the Hindu fold.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">Later, he set up an ashram at Chakpada and a Kanya Ashram (girls residential school) at Jalespata in Kandhmal district. He spent his life promoting literacy and combating conversions in this tribal-dominated district. For this, he earned the wrath of Christian missionaries and was attacked on several occasions.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">On December 25, 2007, he was attacked by a section of the Christian community and his security guard was severely injured. Later, clashes erupted in Phulbani and other areas.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">Curfew was imposed in Baliguda, Daringbadi and Brahmani Gaon as well as the district headquarters of Kandhamal for more than a month to restore peace. Swami Laxmananda Saraswati's murder could give rise to tension.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news" colspan="2" valign="top">Reacting sharply to the ghastly incident, the State BJP president said the culprits should be arrested immediately. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad expressed shock over the killings.</td></tr></tbody></table>

[suchandra]

Ok, for some it is proven that Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati was radical.

 

World

India's Christians condemn killing of radical Hindu leader

 

by Dibin Samuel

Posted: Monday, August 25, 2008, 9:37 (BST)

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<!--Start of Article--> Tensions are running high in India's Orissa state after the leader of a radical Hindu group was killed on Saturday.

Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati was the leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an extremist group believed to be behind a wave of violence against Christians last Christmas in which 80 churches were set on fire and more than 3,000 Christians were displaced.

Although the government is holding Maoists responsible for the killing, the VHP is blaming Christians.

"Christians have killed Swamiji. We will give a befitting reply," VHP state general secretary Gouri Prasad Rath said, demanding a high-level probe and ban on churches in Kandhamal.

"We would be forced to opt for violent protests if action is not taken against the killers," Rath warned.

Orissa's Christians now fear there will be the victim of more attacks. In a bid to ease tensions, churches and Christian organisations in the state have been quick to issue statements condemning the Saraswati's murder.

Dr Sam Paul, All India Christian Council (aicc) National Secretary of Public Affairs, said, “The Christian community in India abhors violence, condemns all acts of terrorism, and opposes groups of people taking the law into their own hands.

"We have had major differences with Mr Saraswati, the deceased VHP leader. It was the hate campaigns of the Sangh Parivar which led to untold misery for Christians - including the unprecedented violence last Christmas in Orissa. But we wish peace to everyone and urge everyone to follow the rule of law.”

Secretary General of the aicc, Dr John Dayal, said that Saraswati's murder has already sparked attacks in neighbouring districts.

"We’ve heard that at least one prayer hall in Sudergarh was burnt, the van of some Catholic nuns was destroyed, and the sisters were injured."

The police have confirmed that churches and prayer halls were attacked at some places. "There were reports of attacks on religious places. We are keeping a strict vigil," a spokesperson said.

Dayal, who is also a member of the National Integration Council, has called on India's government leaders to take necessary steps to maintain peace and harmony and to prevent further attacks on Christians.

BJP state leader Suresh Pujari, who demanded a thorough inquiry into the murder, said Saraswati was on good terms with Maoists and that he was killed for opposing religious conversion in various parts of the state. "Those opposed to Swamiji's anti-conversion activities killed him," he said.

The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI)'s General Secretary, Dr Richard Howell, denounced the killing.

“While deeply saddened by the week-long spate of attacks that hit Kandhamal district during last Christmas, EFI, as a representative of the evangelical church in India, stands against every act of violence and terrorism.

“EFI also regrets that vested interests among the various Hindu nationalist groups are trying to blame local Christians for the act."

Pastor Shukla Vikram, who bore the brunt of 2007 Kandhamal violence and whose church was a victim of extreme vandalism, told Christian Today, “The sporadic incidents happened last December during our Christmas celebrations still remain in my mind. I saw a mob of over 500 seethed with anger, ready to do anything. Over 600 Christian homes were burnt in those pre-planned attacks.

“For sure, I do not want another Kandhamal story recorded in our history books. Hence I request the intervention of global Christian community against these incidents, and for their valuable prayers for the restoration of peace,” he added.