Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati murder case: Seven accused found guilty

Bhubaneshwar, Sept 30: Five years after he was murdered, the seven accused in the murder of VHP leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati were found guilty on Monday.

According to a report, the state's Crime Branch had charged Duryodhan Sanamajhi, Munda Badamajhi, Sanatan Badamajhi, Bhaskar Sanamajhi, Gananath Seth, Bijay Kumar Sanaseth and Budhadev Nayak under Sections 302, 147, 148, 449, 120 (B) of IPC and 25/27 Arms Act in its chargesheet.

On the night of August 23, 2008, assailants had entered an ashram at Tumudibandha, Phulbani in Kandhamal district and pumped bullets killing Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates, during a spiritual discourse on the occasion of Janmashatmi.

In 2007 also, Swami Lakshmananda sustained serious injuries in a violent attack at Daringbadi.

In an attempt to bring justice to the killing of Swami Lakshmananda and four others, the senior leader of opposition BJP, Ashok Sahu also began a fast-unto-death in August this year in Phulbani district.

Kandhamal, about 200 km from the state capital, witnessed widespread communal violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader and saint Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram.

OneIndia News