Laxmanananda Saraswati's death anniversary observed

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today observed the 10th death anniversary of its slain leader Laxmanananda Saraswati and accused the Odisha Government of failing to nab his "real killers".

Speakers at a meeting organised by the VHP's Kandhamal district alleged that the state government has failed to nab the real culprits and conspirators involved in the killing of Saraswati on the night of August 23, 2008.

Saraswati and his four disciples were killed by armed assailants at his ashram at Jalespeta under the jurisdiction of Tumudibandha police station when the inmates were celebrating 'Janmastami'.

In the aftermath of the killing, Kandhamal and neighbouring areas were rocked by widespread violence and riots. Many places of worship and prayer halls and houses were damaged and torched during the riots which claimed the lives of several people.

VHP leaders hit out at the state government for not making public the reports of two commissions that probed the riots that shook Kandhamal district in 2007 and 2008.

They demanded that the state government make public the findings of both Panigrahy and Naidu Commissions.

While Justice Basudev Panigrahi inquiry commission had been set up to probe the 2007 riot in Kandhamal, A S Naidu Commission probed the 2008 riot in the district in the aftermath of the killing of Saraswati.

Security was beefed up across the district since last night in view of the event. While vehicles were thoroughly checked, security was tightened at vulnerable places and the two ashrams founded by Saraswati at Jalespeta and Chakapada, Additional Superintendent of Police Utkalranjan Das said.