Normal life disrupts due to VHP bandh

Bhubaneswar: (visakeo)Normal life on Tuesday disrupted in the State due a four-hour long bandh called by the VHP in protest against the attack on Swami Laxmananda Saraswati at Brahmanigaon village in Daringbadi block of Phulbani district by Christian people. Workers of RSS, BJP, VHP, Bajarang Dal, ABVP, BMS, Hindu Jagaran Samukhya and other pro-Hindu organisations stopped vehicular movements in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Phulbani, Sundargarh, Bhadrak, Balasore and other places and sought action against those, attacked Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. Thousands of activists were arrested at several places. Bandh supporters blocked vehicular movements at Vani Vihar Sqaure, Rasulgarh Square, Master Canteen, Raj Mahal, Samantrapur Square and several other places of the city. "If the State Government failed to take action against the accused, we would further intensify the agitation," VHP State general secretary Gouri Prasad Rath said. However, tension continued to prevail for the second consecutive day in Phulbani due to the four-hour shutdown, shops closed and 600 police personnel trawling the roads after several clashes between Christians and Hindus the day before. People of one community have reportedly burnt four shops in the tension site of Phulbani. The trouble escalated after a group of people attacked the vehicle of local Hindu leader Swami Laxamananda Saraswati near neighbouring Daringbadi village when he was on his way to the trouble spot to perform a 'yagna'. While his vehicle was partially damaged, Saraswati and one of those accompanying him were injured; district SP Narasinha Bhol said . VHP sources here said that for better treatment Swami Laxmananda Saraswati was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital. According to reports from the area, shops were closed and vehicular movement affected in places where the clashes had taken place as the VHP shutdown came into effect. Although the situation has remained tense it is under control, Bhol said.