Odisha Crime Branch to Probe Missing Judicial Report on VHP Leader’s Killing

Odisha's Crime Branch is set to investigate the disappearance of a judicial report linked to the 2008 killing of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Laxmanananda Saraswati. Saraswati and four of his associates were fatally shot by Maoists at his ashram in the Kandhamal district on August 23, 2008.

The VHP leader's murder had triggered widespread communal violence in Kandhamal, resulting in numerous deaths and displacement of thousands. The subsequent judicial inquiry was intended to shed light on the incident and its aftermath. However, the reported missing status of the judicial report has raised concerns and prompted the current investigation.

This development underscores the lingering sensitivity and complexities surrounding the Kandhamal riots and the events leading up to them. The Crime Branch's probe into the missing report signifies an effort to address potential lapses in the judicial process and ensure accountability in a case that deeply impacted the region.