3 years after, Swamijis killers still at large

PHULBANI: The State Government has failed to nab the culprits responsible for the killing of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, said Ashok Kumar Sahu, an activist of VHP.  Addressing a gathering on the third death anniversary of the Seer here on Tuesday he threatened that “If the State Government does not arrest the main accused by this time next year, the VHP would resort to agitation on a largescale”.   Seven persons have so far been nabbed for their involvement in the killings.  The seer and four of his disciples were killed on the night of August 23, 2008, at his Jalaspeta ashram. The four disciples were Kishore Baba, Mata Amrutamayee, Mata Bhaktimayee and Puranjan Ganda.  Communal riots had erupted in Kandhamal district following the Swamiji’s  killing. Around 44 persons were killed and thousands had become homeless in the communal conflagration.Representatives of Hindu Jagran Manch, Kandha Surakhya Manch, BJP, Zilla Lekhaka Sammukhya, Bajrang Dal and Kui Samaj participated in the Tuesday’s  meeting.  A memorandum, addressed to the President was submitted to the District Collector demanding immediate arrest of the Seer’s killers and handing over of the investigation  to CBI.