Swami Laxmananda's killers must be nabbed and punished: Advani

Bhubaneswar, Sep 24 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani today demanded that the culprits behind the assassination of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati must be nabbed and punished.

The BJP leader, who made an aerial survey of the worst flood-hit areas of coastal Orissa today, told newsmen at the airport that the killing of the VHP leader and four others, was highly condemnable.

Mr Advani said since he was in Orissa, he wanted to say something about this unfortunate incident, which happened in the state. The culprits behind the killing must be punished and the motive behind the crime ascertained, he added.

Unknown assailants gunned down Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, a widely revered Hindu leader, and four of his disciples on the night of August 23 last at the Jalaspeta Ashram in Kandhmal district, triggering violence and communal tension in Orissa.

Mr Advani said the violent reaction to this incident resulting in the attack on places of worship and killing of many innocent minority people was also condemnable.

The guilty in such cases should not be spared and such incidents must not be repeated either in Orissa or anywhere else in the country.

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