Four more held for killing Orissa VHP leader

15 Dec 2008, 0053 hrs IST, Sandeep Mishra, TNN
Print Email Discuss Share Save Comment Text:
BHUBANESWAR: Four more people were arrested on Sunday in connection with the August 23 murder of senior VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati,

taking the total arrests in the sensational case that had triggered widespread communal violence in Orissa's Kandhmal district to seven.

Interestingly, the police success came just a day before saffron brigades' ultimatum to the state government to arrest the killers of the VHP leader, failing which they would organize an Orissa bandh on December 25.

"We have arrested four of the accused and are on the look out for others,'' IG (crime branch) Arun Ray told TOI. Police sources said the four were arrested during raids by Special Operations Group personnel in Kotgarh area of Kandhmal district.

"We're looking for seven accused. We arrested four Christians, believed to be Maoist supporters, for killing Saraswati and four of his followers at an ashram in Jalespeta on August 23, from a place bordering Rayagada district. Search operations are on to nab the other three,'' the sources said. more