Murder of Lakshmanananda Saraswati - Revision history

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 {{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
-Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples were murdered on 23 August 2008 in the State of [[Odisha]] in [[India]]. Saraswati was a [[Hindu]] monk and a [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] leader. Seven tribal people of Christian religion and one Maoist leader were convicted in the case.
+{{Infobox civilian attack
 == Previous attack ==
-Saraswati was on his way to visit Brahmanigoan village when a bus belonging to Sugriba Singh, a Panna Christian leader and [[Biju Janata Dal]] Member of Parliament (Lower House) obstructed the road. Saraswati was attacked on the spot- Swami, his driver and his security guard had all sustained injuries. In a statement, Saraswati had identified Radha Kanta Nayak, an [[Indian National Congress]] Member of Parliament in the [[Rajya Sabha]], as being involved in the attack. Radha Kanta Nayak also served as chief of the Christian-evangelical organization [[World Vision]]. Saraswati had further stated that this was the seventh time that they had failed to kill him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/353136.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104110758/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/353136.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2013 |title=Slain vhp man was conversion king |publisher=Indianexpress.com |access-date=18 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.newsweek.com/id/81970/page/1 | title = Christians fear attacks by Indian Hindus | publisher = newsweek | date = 29 December 2007 | access-date = 1 January 2008}}{{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/61677/RSS-wing-blames-Cong-MP-for-triggering-communal-tension-in-Kandhamal.html|title=RSS wing blames Cong MP for triggering communal tension in Kandhamal|date=27 December 2007|access-date=29 September 2009|work=The Pioneer}}</ref><ref name="gpages">{{cite web|url=http://bharatam1.googlepages.com/kandhamal.pdf|title=Kandhamal (Orissa)|author=Justice on trial}}</ref>
+Saraswati was on his way to visit [[Brahmanigoan|Brahmanigoan village]] when a bus belonging to Sugriba Singh, a Panna Christian leader and [[Biju Janata Dal]] Member of Parliament (Lower House) obstructed the road. Saraswati was attacked on the spot- Swami, his driver and his security guard had all sustained injuries. In a statement, Saraswati had identified [[Radhakant Nayak|Radha Kanta Nayak]], an [[Indian National Congress]] Member of Parliament in the [[Rajya Sabha]], as being involved in the attack. Radha Kanta Nayak also served as chief of the Christian-evangelical organization [[World Vision]]. Saraswati had further stated that this was the seventh time that they had failed to kill him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/353136.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104110758/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/353136.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2013 |title=Slain vhp man was conversion king |publisher=Indianexpress.com |access-date=18 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.newsweek.com/id/81970/page/1 | title = Christians fear attacks by Indian Hindus | publisher = newsweek | date = 29 December 2007 | access-date = 1 January 2008}}{{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/61677/RSS-wing-blames-Cong-MP-for-triggering-communal-tension-in-Kandhamal.html|title=RSS wing blames Cong MP for triggering communal tension in Kandhamal|date=27 December 2007|access-date=29 September 2009|work=The Pioneer}}</ref><ref name="gpages">{{cite web|url=http://bharatam1.googlepages.com/kandhamal.pdf|title=Kandhamal (Orissa)|author=Justice on trial}}</ref>
 == Threat ==
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 [[Category:Murder in Odisha]]
 [[Category:Violence against Hindus in India]]
 [[Category:August 2008 events in Asia]]
 [[Category:2000s murders in India]]
 [[Category:2008 murders in Asia]]

>Suneye1: Restored revision 1020847610 by Uranium Site (talk): Provide sources

2021-07-06T17:58:57Z

Restored revision 1020847610 by Uranium Site (talk): Provide sources

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}

Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples were murdered on 23 August 2008 in the State of [[Odisha]] in [[India]]. Saraswati was a [[Hindu]] monk and a [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] leader. Seven tribal people of Christian religion and one Maoist leader were convicted in the case.

== Previous attack ==
Saraswati was on his way to visit Brahmanigoan village when a bus belonging to Sugriba Singh, a Panna Christian leader and [[Biju Janata Dal]] Member of Parliament (Lower House) obstructed the road. Saraswati was attacked on the spot- Swami, his driver and his security guard had all sustained injuries. In a statement, Saraswati had identified Radha Kanta Nayak, an [[Indian National Congress]] Member of Parliament in the [[Rajya Sabha]], as being involved in the attack. Radha Kanta Nayak also served as chief of the Christian-evangelical organization [[World Vision]]. Saraswati had further stated that this was the seventh time that they had failed to kill him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/353136.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104110758/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/353136.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2013 |title=Slain vhp man was conversion king |publisher=Indianexpress.com |access-date=18 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.newsweek.com/id/81970/page/1 | title = Christians fear attacks by Indian Hindus | publisher = newsweek | date = 29 December 2007 | access-date = 1 January 2008}}{{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/61677/RSS-wing-blames-Cong-MP-for-triggering-communal-tension-in-Kandhamal.html|title=RSS wing blames Cong MP for triggering communal tension in Kandhamal|date=27 December 2007|access-date=29 September 2009|work=The Pioneer}}</ref><ref name="gpages">{{cite web|url=http://bharatam1.googlepages.com/kandhamal.pdf|title=Kandhamal (Orissa)|author=Justice on trial}}</ref>

== Threat ==
Saraswati received an anonymous threat only a week before his assassination. Ashram authorities also filed a [[First Information Report]] (or FIR) with the local police. However, no steps were taken to provide appropriate security cover to him, despite ample evidence that there were very real threats being made on his life and the lives of those he served.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/3566/Anti-conversion-swami-4-others-shot-dead.html |title=Anti-conversion Swami 4 others shot dead |publisher=The Pioneer |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=1 November 2013}}
</ref> The Government of Odisha later admitted that lapses might have occurred in his security and would place Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Nikhil Kanodia and officer-in-charge of Tumudibandha police station Jena under suspension.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/19131/2-suspects-held-for-swamis-killing.html |title=2 suspects held for Swami's killing |publisher=The Pioneer |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=1 November 2013}}</ref>

== Assassination ==
Saraswati was murdered on [[Janmashtami]] Day of 2008 while visiting with pupils at the Kanya Ashram (a residential girls' school) in Tumudibandh, about 100 km from [[Phulbani]], the district headquarters of [[Kandhamal district]]. Four of his disciples, including a boy, were also killed by gunfire.<ref>
[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/VHP_leader_four_others_shot_dead/articleshow/3397757.cms Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, four others shot dead], The Economic Times, 24 August 2008.{{dead link|date=February 2015}}</ref>

The Kanya Ashram housed 130 girls on the day of the Janmashtami festival and many of the girls were eyewitnesses to the killing, as reported by Indian Express.<ref>
[http://www.indianexpress.com/story/354813.html Trauma in ashram, schoolgirls witnessed Swami's murder]</ref> A group of thirty to forty armed men surrounded the Ashram. Four of the assailants carried AK-47s and many others had locally made revolvers. Two of the four government provided security guards had gone home to eat, the assailants tied and gagged the two remaining guards.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/28orissa1.htm Who killed Lakshmanananda? Krishnakumar P, 28 August 2008]</ref>

==Civil disorder and riots following assassination==
Hundreds of people gathered on the route to pay their last respects to Saraswati. Riots erupted when the procession passed through localities with Christian populations. Christians, who were perceived to be [[Indian National Congress]] party supporters, were targeted everywhere; in some places many Hindu families were also attacked because they were Congress supporters. The attackers included activists of the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad|VHP]], the [[Bajrang Dal]] and other [[Sangh Parivar]] organisations, and workers of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] that was a partner in the government headed by [[Naveen Patnaik]]. The violence also saw attacks on Christians who belonged to the [[Scheduled Castes]] and on people who claimed tribal status on the grounds that they spoke the [[Kui language (India)|Kui language]] of the [[Kondha]] tribal people. The Kui Samaj, which unites members of the native Kondh tribe in Kandhamal, was found to be very much on the side of the VHP and the ruling alliance.<ref>
Prafulla Das, [https://web.archive.org/web/20081008012813/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2519/stories/20080926251900400.htm Project Orissa], Frontline, 13 September 2008.
</ref>

==Investigations==
The government announced a special investigative probe into the attack.<ref>
[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200808241551.htm Orissa announces judicial probe into murder of VHP leaders] The Hindu - 24 August 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080062715 Protests in Orissa over killing of VHP leader] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827033900/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080062715 |date=27 August 2008 }} NDTV - 24 August 2008</ref>

The police arrested Pradesh Kumar Das, an employee of [[World Vision India|the Indian branch]] of [[World Vision]], a Christian charity organisation, from Khadagpur while escaping from the district at Buguda. In another drive, two other persons, Vikram Digal and William Digal, were arrested from the house of Lal Digal, a local militant Christian, from Nuasahi at Gunjibadi, Nuagaan. They have admitted to having joined a group of twenty-eight other assailants.<ref name="dailypioneer.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/19104/Widespread-anger-in-Kandhamal-over-killings.html |title=Widespread anger in Kandhamal over killings |publisher=The Pioneer |access-date=1 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102224051/http://www.dailypioneer.com/19104/Widespread-anger-in-Kandhamal-over-killings.html |archive-date=2 November 2013 }}</ref>

On 28 August, a letter of denial was received by some [[News media|media]] outlets, the VHP office in the [[Gajapati district|Gajapati]] District of Orissa and the Bajrang Dal from a Maoist group. While the letter denied that the Central Committee of the Kotagarha branch of the Maoists had approved the attack, it claimed that some Maoists may have been bribed by Christians to launch the attack.<ref>
[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/maoists-deny-role-in-vhp-leaders-murder/article1325766.ece Maoists deny role in VHP leader's murder] The Hindu, 29 29 August 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2015.</ref> Soon after the appearance of the aforementioned letter, Azad, a leader of the Maoist People's Liberation Guerrilla Army, claimed responsibility for the murder of Lakshmanananda. Azad was suspected by the police of leading the attack himself.<ref name="ToIaug30">{{cite news | title = Maoists claim they killed 'fascist' VHP leader in Orissa | date = 30 August 2008 | url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-08-30/india/27940401_1_maoists-claim-swami-laxmanananda-saraswati-vhp-leader | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022093031/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-08-30/india/27940401_1_maoists-claim-swami-laxmanananda-saraswati-vhp-leader | url-status = dead | archive-date = 22 October 2012 | access-date = 31 August 2008| first1=Sandeep| work = [[The Times of India]] | last1=Mishra}}</ref> On 9 September 2008 the Maoists, who work underground, made an official press release claiming responsibility for the killing of Saraswati.<ref name="Maoistrelease">{{cite web | title = CPI Maoists claim VHP leader's killing | publisher = NDTV | date = 9 September 2008 | url = http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080064612&ch=9/9/2008%209:16:00%20AM | access-date = 9 September 2008 }}</ref> A few claims that Maoist sympathizers of south Orissa had initially denied the role of CPI-Maoist were made in the murder of VHP leaders that sparked off communal violence in Kandhamnal district.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/29/stories/2008082952080300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901082135/http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/29/stories/2008082952080300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=1 September 2008 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Maoists deny role in VHP leader's murder | date=29 August 2008}}
</ref> [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]] leader [[Sabyasachi Panda]] claimed that they killed Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples at his Jalespeta ashram on 23 August.<ref>
{{cite press release | title = Maoists claim responsibility for killing of VHP leader | work = The Hindu | date = 5 October 2008 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/Maoists-claim-responsibility-for-killing-of-VHP-leader/article15317244.ece | access-date = 5 October 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release| title = We killed Swami, Maoists say again | date = 6 October 2008 | url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-10-06/india/27909177_1_maoists-swami-laxmanananda-saraswati-riots | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022093039/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-10-06/india/27909177_1_maoists-swami-laxmanananda-saraswati-riots | url-status = dead | archive-date = 22 October 2012 | work = [[The Times of India]] |access-date = 5 October 2008}}</ref> In March 2009 police arrested Central Committee and Politburo member of CPI (Maoist), [[Ashutosh Tudu]] for murder of Swami Laxmanananda.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/maoist-mastermind-behind-laxmanananda-killing-arrested/|title=Maoist mastermind behind Laxmanananda killing arrested|website=indianexpress.com|access-date=17 March 2019}}</ref>

On Wednesday 22 July 2009, a young Maoist couple, Surendra and Ruppi Pidikka alias Jaya Venkwara claimed to have been involved in the Saraswati's killing and surrendered to the Orissa police.<ref>[http://www.zeenews.com/news549289.html Killers of Laxmanananda Saraswati surrender] Zee News - 22 July 2009</ref>

Reconstructing the final moments of the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda and his four disciples in Kandhamal's Jalespeta ashram in August 2008, Orissa police said that a Maoist who surrendered this week claimed there were four policemen at the ashram but they fled when the Maoists announced that they had come looking for the Swami. Four of the six Maoists who carried out the attack were from [[Chhattisgarh]], the police were told. Rayagada SP Ashis Kumar Singh said Surendra Brekwada alias Dasu, who surrendered with his wife Ruppi Pidikka alias Jaya, told them that a six-member "crack team" of the Maoists, led by Orissa CPI (Maoist) leader Azad alias Duna Keshav Rao, reached Jalespeta Ashram on 23 August evening and came across four lathi-wielding policemen. Brekwada, a sharpshooter, was one of the six who allegedly killed the 82-year-old Laxmanananda, Kishore Baba (45), Amritananda Baba (62), Mata Bhaktimayee (40) and Puranjan Ganthi (28), brother of one of the girl inmates of the tribal residential school.<ref>
[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maoist-recalls-final-moments-of-laxmanananda-claims-cops-fled/493992/ Reconstructing the final moments of the killing of Laxmanananda] Indian Express 25 July 2009
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828092605/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maoist-recalls-final-moments-of-laxmanananda-claims-cops-fled/493992/ |date=28 August 2009 }}</ref>

In spite of claims that the case of Swamiji's murder has been solved, it is widely believed to be a cover up, based on doubts expressed by several senior investigators and experts on left-wing extremism.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/28orissa1.htm Who killed Swami Lakshmanananda?] Rediff News
</ref> [[Subash Chouhan]], national co-convener of the [[Bajrang Dal]], refused to accept that the Maoists were responsible, saying "Why all of a sudden so many days after the incident has [Panda] come and spoken to the television channels?".<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-10-05-2441197418_x.htm |journal=[[USA Today]] |title=Report: Maoists say they murdered Hindu leader |date=10 May 2008 |access-date=21 April 2012}}</ref>

==Convictions==
On 30 September 2013, Additional district judge Rajendra Kumar Tosh at an Additional district and sessions court in [[Phulbani]] convicted seven Christians<ref name=CTAus>
{{cite news|title=Indian Christians sentenced to life for Orissa killing will appeal|url=http://au.christiantoday.com/article/indian-christians-sentenced-to-life-for-orissa-killing-will-appeal/16340.htm|access-date=1 November 2013|newspaper=Christian Today Australia|date=22 October 2013}}
</ref><ref name=BosNewsLife>
{{cite news|title=India Christians Appeal Lifetime Sentence For 'Murder' Hindu Leader|url=http://www.bosnewslife.com/30934-india-christians-appeal-lifetime-sentence-for-murder-hindu-leader|access-date=1 November 2013|newspaper=BosNewsLife|date=18 October 2013}}
</ref><ref name=MNN>
{{cite news|title=Pray for the end of legal persecution in India|url=http://www.mnnonline.org/article/19109|access-date=1 November 2013|newspaper=Mission Network News|date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104053059/http://www.mnnonline.org/article/19109|archive-date=4 November 2013|url-status=dead}}
</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/swami-lakshmanananda-murder-questionable-convictions|title=The questionable convictions in the case of Swami Lakshmanananda's murder|last=M|first=Rahul|date=October 2017|website=[[The Caravan]]|language=en|access-date=30 December 2019}}</ref> for the murder: Gadanath Chalanseth, Bijaya Kumar Shyamseth, Buddha Nayak, Sanatan Badamajhi, Duryadhan Sunamajhi, Bhaskar Sunamajhi and Munda Badamajhi.<ref>
{{cite web | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maoist-leader-convicted-in-laxmanananda-murder-case/article5189513.ece| title = Maoist leader convicted in Laxmanananda murder case | date = 31 October 2013 | newspaper = The Hindu }}
</ref> However, on 1 October 2013, the same court also convicted a [[Maoist]] leader from [[Andhra Pradesh]] for the same crime.

Six days later the same court set free five non-Christians who were being tried for burning of a Christian house in the riots following the murder. Sajan George, president of Global Council of Indian Christians alleged that the court is biased against the Christian minority.<ref name=CTAus/> The defence lawyer, S.K. Padhi said that the ruling would be appealed against in the [[Odisha High Court]].<ref>{{cite press release | title = Life term for 8 in Lakshmananda Murder case | work = The Hindu | date = 1 October 2013 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/life-term-for-8-in-lakshmanananda-murder-case/article5196179.ece | access-date = 4 October 2013 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lakshmanananda, Swami, Murder Of}}
[[Category:Murder in India]]
[[Category:2000s in Orissa]]
[[Category:Murder in Odisha]]
[[Category:Violence against Hindus in India]]
[[Category:21st-century Hinduism]]
[[Category:August 2008 events in Asia]]
[[Category:2000s murders in India]]
[[Category:2008 murders in Asia]]