Phulbani: With massive deployment of State Police ‘Janmasthami’ and the ‘Death Anniversary of Viswa Hindu Parishad Stalwart Swami Laxmananda Saraswati were observed peacefully across the communally sensitive Kandhamal district and other parts of Odisha on 26 August.
With 27 Platoons of armed cops deployed at vulnerable locations in Kandhamal, the celebrations for ‘Janmasthami’ and ‘Swami’s Sacrifice Day’ passed off peacefully.
Ministers, Rabi Narayan Naik and Suryabanshi Suraj, attended a function at Saraswati’s Jalespata Ashram and paid their tributes.
Shri Naik lauded the slain VHP Stalwart as a “great reformer” who significantly contributed to the backward region of Kandhamal and the tribal community.
Suraj highlighted Saraswati’s role in promoting culture, education, and agriculture in Kandhamal district.
Kandhamal MP Sukant Panigrahi criticised the previous BJD government for not taking proper action against the “conspirators” behind Saraswati’s murder.
Swami Muktanda Ji, in charge of the Jalespata ashram chaired the ceremony, which went off peacefully, pointed out Sub Collector Baliguda.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan paid their respects to Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, who, along with four associates, was killed on 23 August, 2008. The violence that followed resulted in 43 deaths in Kandhamal.
Chief Minister in his X platform described Saraswati as a great social reformer who worked for the wellbeing of downtrodden and also uphold the local culture. “His (Saraswati) dedicated life will all along inspire society,” Shri Majhi said.
Union Minister Shri Pradhan, who garlanded Swami Laxmananda statue in Angul district, said on X, “On the occasion of the death anniversary of Vedanta Keshari Brahmalin Pujya Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj, I paid homage at his birthplace in Talcher block, Gurjang. Swamiji worked to instill devotion among the masses and created an example of social harmony in the state. May his sacrifice and ideals continue to bless our nation and society.”
In order to commemorate Swami Laxmananda’s death anniversary, the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) organised a marathon in Bhubaneswar, drawing participation from hundreds, including students.
The 2008 killing of Laxmananda Saraswati and his associates by unidentified gunmen during Janmashtami led to widespread riots, with about 43 deaths and thousands displaced. The district administration imposed a 40-day curfew to restore order. The BJD Government ordered Crime Branch Investigation, which implicated several Maoists. In October 2013, eight convicts, including Maoist leader Udaya, were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Despite significant public interest, the findings of the judicial inquiry, conducted by Justice Sarat Chandra Mohapatra and later Justice A. S. Naidu, have not yet been made public, even 16 years after the murder, for which BJP leaders are demanding to make the Inquiry Commission Report Public.
Minister Law Prithiviraj Harichandan has assured in this regard saying the Inquiry Report will be out soon.