ORISSA, INDIA, August 24, 2008: Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, the 80-year-old monk who spearheaded the anti-conversion movement in Orissa’s tribal dominated areas for decades, was shot dead at his Jalespata Ashram under Tumudibandha block in Kandhamal district late Saturday night.
Director-General of Police Gopal Nanda confirmed the murderous attack on Swami Laxmananda Saraswati’s ashram. The police suspect the killers to be Maoists. The district administration has mobilised police force and rushed CRPF companies to the spot. The District Collector and the SP have also rushed to Tumudibandha to take stock of the situation.
Swami Laxmananda Saraswati came to tribal-dominated Kandhamal in 1966. Since then he has been leading a campaign against conversion activities of Christian missionaries. Swami was a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP). He has also been in the forefront of the campaign against cow-slaughter. It was because of his sustained efforts that thousands of tribals who had embraced Christianity returned to the Hindu fold. Swami Laxmananda Saraswati had served tribals, mainly Kandhs, in the region. His main ashram is located at Chakapad in the same district. The place where he was killed houses a residential school for girls and an ashram
Thousands of people blocked roads at several places in the state. The
state government has asked the police and district administrative
heads to remain alert.