Pressure Mounts for Release of Judicial Report on VHP Leader's Killing

Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan announced that a decision on releasing the judicial commission report on the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati will be made soon. The report's release has been demanded by various organizations. Saraswati was killed in 2008, leading to widespread violence.

Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan has announced that a decision on the release of the judicial commission report concerning the assassination of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati will be made shortly. This announcement came on the 16th death anniversary of Saraswati, amid growing calls for transparency.

The demand for the report's release has been backed by several organizations, including the Odisha unit of the VHP, Bajrang Dal, and the Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Smruti Committee, all supported by the RSS. Saraswati and four associates were killed on August 23, 2008, at Jaleshpeta Ashram in the Kandhamal district during Janmashtami celebrations, sparking widespread violence that resulted in 40 deaths.

The Odisha government formed a commission of inquiry initially led by Justice Sarat Mohapatra and later by Justice A S Naidu to investigate Saraswati's death. Although the Commission submitted its report in 2015, the previous BJD government delayed its release, according to state VHP leader S. Satpathy. Kandhamal MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi has also called for a CBI probe into the case, citing concerns that the masterminds are still at large.

(With inputs from agencies.)