Killing of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati has taken a new turn as the crime branch claimed that a group of Maoists were hired to execute the crime. The investigating agency had identified them and there was a master mind behind the killing. Laxamananda Saraswati’s killing sparked a wave of communal violence in Kandhamal district which left more than 40 persons dead and thousand of houses damaged. .
"Maoists were given money to train particular group of youths of a certain community to eliminate Saraswati", Inspector General (IG) of Police, crime branch, Arun Ray said, claiming the mastermind of the killings had been identified.
The plan to eliminate Saraswati was made immediately after the December 2007, communal violence in Kandhamal, the IG said.
Investigation further revealed that a group had collected money from some villages in Kandhamal which was given to the Maoist group to train their youths for the purpose. At least 60 youths were given arms training by Maoists.
According to the IG members of a particular community were unhappy with Saraswati and held him responsible for the riots which took place during Christmas in 2007. They requested a Maoist group to assist them in killing Saraswati.
The police investigation said six Telugu-speaking persons had fired at Saraswati and others and a trained group were guarding the ashram at Jalespeta in Kandhamal during the incident.
Refusing to divulge identity and religion of the mastermind behind the killing, the IG said Maoists only executed the crime.
Last week Sabyasachi Panda alias Sunil, secretary of the Orissa division of the CPI (Maoists) had told a group of journalists inside the jungles that top three leaders of Sangh Parivar-BJP leader LK Advani and VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Praveen Togadia were on their ‘hit-list’. ‘We will kill the trio whenever we get the chance’. The ‘most wanted’ underground leader reiterated that they executed the Swami because he was responsible for the persecution and forced re-conversion of Dalit-Christians. The state Maoist chief made it clear that they were angry with the Hindutava outfits for conducting forced re-conversion.
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