Date:24/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/24/stories/2008082460251000.htm

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Orissa police on alert after ashram attack

Prafulla Das

BHUBANESWAR: The police all over Orissa have been put on alert after Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda and four disciples, including a woman, were killed in an attack by armed men at Jalespata in the communally sensitive Kandhamal district on Saturday.

Maoists suspected

The assailants opened fire and hurled bombs at his ashram at 8.30 p.m., Director-General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda told The Hindu over telephone. “We suspect that the assailants could be Maoists,” he said.

The Superintendent of Police and district officials reached the spot.

Mr. Nanda said several senior police officials were asked to go to the district to prevent any untoward incident. The SPs in all 30 districts were put on alert.

Police sources said police were deployed near churches and prayer houses in the district.

On Friday, a threatening letter was received at the ashram and the Tumidibanda police station was informed.

Last year, Kandhamal district witnessed large-scale violence involving Hindus and Christians on Christmas-eve, following an attack on Swami Lakshmanananda.