Police inaction in Lakshmanananda murder case condemned

--followers observe Dharmarakshya divas

BHUBANESWAR: Followers of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, while observing his death anniversary here on Thursday, condemned the police inaction and the State Government’s apathy to arrest the murderers of Swami and his four associates in Kandhamal in 2008. 

Gracing the occasion, Lakshmanananda’s close associate Swami Pranarupananda Saraswati said the work and service done by Swami for the tribal peoples in the area will be an example for the forthcoming generation. He had transformed the tribal’s life, but his murder left a great space which couldn’t be fulfilled, he added.

Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati Memorial’s member Dr Laxmikant Das said the State Government has not taken any step to arrest the culprits of the murder case. Even the High Court had given order to start investigation on the basis of informants’ data, but the concerned officials could not take any initiative into the case, he added.        

The followers observed the assassinated day of Lakshmanananda as Dharmarakshya divas. Like the capital city, several programmes are being held in Jaleshapata and Chakapada villages in Kandhamal district where Lakshmanananda was staying with his associates.

It may be noted that the death of Swami Lakshmanananda led to a religious violence and riots in Kandhamal district. After the communal violence, the State Government had set up a Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Sarat Chandra Mohapatra.