Security for late Hindu seer was pitiful

Security for late Hindu seer was pitiful
By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: At last, the Orissa Police has admitted that the security arrangements at Jalespata Ashram in State’s Kandhamal district was insufficient, where Hindu seer Swami Laxmnanda Saraswati and four of his disciples were gun down on August 23 last year.

While deposing before Justice Sarat Mohapata Commission, the former Officer-in-Charge of Tikabali police station, Rajnikant Mallick said that security arrangements were very poor.

The police official said that security for late seer was not up to the mark as compared to the security he used to get at Chakapada ashram.

Persecution lawyer and State BJP president Suresh Pujari cross examined the police official and sought to know as to why the Seer was availed such security even despite threat to his life.

The Police official also admitted rift between the Hindu Kandhas and Panas in the region. Seer’s death greatly shocked his supporters resulting in communal riots, he said.

The former OIC narrated the rift between Kandhas and Panas in the area. He also said how Swamiji was active in anti-conversion activities and curbing cow slaughter in the region. Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar also deposed before the Commission. But he would be grilled on October 26.