Swami Lakshmanananda

Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati( Born Shravan Krushna Navami)(1927-2008) was a Hindu monk who headed the Jalespata Ashram in Kandhamal district of Orissa [http://www.newstodaynet.com/printer.php?id=3557 Attack on Laxmanananda by Christian mob in Orissa-I V Sundaram | Fri, 28 Dec, 2007] .

The Swami was a native of Gurujanga village in Talcher. Over four decades ago, he left his wife and son (who was just one year old)and became a monk, and moved to Kandhamal [http://www.orissatimes.net/2008/08/swami-laxmanananda-saraswati-man-with.html Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, A Man with a Mission] . He established an Ashram at Chakapada in 1968, he was forced to leave the placeFact|date=September 2008. After two years he came back and settled there. Since 1970 he has been involved in Social services promoting tribal welfare.He opposed the Christian missionary activities and organised reconversions of the tribals. In 2006 he organised a Hindu mahasammelan at his Ashram in Chakapada.

Swami's claim that he has been attacked 8 times before 2008. [ [http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14653&sectionid=4&issueid=69&Itemid=1 India Today] ] was corroborated in January 2008 by a fact finding commission, chaired by Additional Advocate General of Rajasthan G.S.Gill.

He was attacked on 24 December, 2007 [http://www.newstodaynet.com/printer.php?id=3557] [http://pd.cpim.org/0113_pd/01132008_saffron.htm] near Dasingabadi while going to Brahmani gaon. The attackers succeeded in causing major injuries to the driver and personal security guard of Lakshmananda whose car was badly damaged.

He was killed at his kanyashram (Girls school) at Tumudibandh, about 100 km from Phulbani, the district headquarters of Kandhmal district. The Maoists have claimed to be behind his murder [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Maoists_claim_they_killed_fascist_VHP_leader_in_Orissa/articleshow/3423908.cms] ] . The has also been subsequently confirmed by the Orissa police [ [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080067842&h=633590465715052500] ] , who have also arrested local Christians in connection with the murder. [ [http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-35824220081006 Reuters] ] . Saraswati had received a threatening letter, reportedly posted on August 9 and received at the Ashram on August 22. The Kendra claimed that a complaint in this regard was lodged at Tumudibandha police station. Swami Lakshamananda was among the five persons killed in the attack. [ [http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-35824220081006 Reuters] ]

The involvement of the Christians in his murder resulted in considerable violence in Orissa. There are conflicting reports about the involvement of the Maoists. A report claims they have admitted involvement [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Maoists_claim_they_killed_fascist_VHP_leader_in_Orissa/articleshow/3423908.cms Maoists claim they killed 'fascist' VHP leader in Orissa] , another report claims that they have denied responsibility [http://www.dailypioneer.com/agenda1.asp?main_variable=sundaypioneer%2Fdialogue&file_name=dial1.txt&counter_
] [http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/29/stories/2008082952080300.htm Maoists deny role in VHP leader’s murder] .It has been suggested that the Maoists and the Evangelists may have been collaborating [Evangelists tie up with Maoists to create mayhem in Kandhamal, Organiser, Jan 13, 2008, By Debasis Tripathy] . NDTV reported that 70% of the Maoists are Christian [NDTV, Orissa raging with communal hatred Jan 13, 2008] [http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&lang=en&length=long&idelement=5210 Communist group in Orissa state suspected of instigating Christians to retaliate] .

Pope Benedict XVI said he "learnt with great sorrow" about "the violence against the Christian community in Orissa state which broke out after the reprehensible assassination" of the Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hZuFnc6fAf-YZuBwkW_HAAMaRRhA Indian police told to shoot religious rioters ] .

2008 attack

The 2008 attack on occurred on the Kanya Ashram (a residential school) which housed 130 girls on the day of the Janmashtami festival. A group of 30-40 armed men surrounded the Asrham. Four of the assailants carried AK-47s and many others had locally made revolvers. Two of the four government provided security guards had gone home to eat. The assailants tied and gagged the two remaining guards [http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/28orissa1.htm Who killed Swami Lakshmanananda? Krishnakumar P, August 28, 2008 ] .

Many of the girls were eyewitnesses to the killing of the swami, as reported by Indian Express [http://www.indianexpress.com/story/354813.html Trauma in ashram, schoolgirls witnessed Swami’s murder] 7 PM in the evening, prayer time in the students’ quarters. 15-year old Anita Pradhan said:

:“First, we thought someone is bursting crackers and so we ran towards the main gate. Then we saw and heard people screaming and running. There was blood all over the place. Swamiji and Mataji and others were lying in blood. I shouted and ran away, we all started running here and there,”

About 10 to 15 men climbed the wall and started firing indiscriminately. They first shot dead Amritanandji, a disciple of Swamiji. The attackers then entered a small room, home to Prabhati Ganta, the guardian of one of the students and shot him. Later, Kishore Baba, from Boudh, was shot just outside this room.Then they broke open Saraswati’s room. Vijaylaxmi Mullick, a Class X student, recalled:“I rushed towards the main gate along with others only to see some men running around and loud cracking noise. I heard the cries of Swamiji and others. I saw other Swamijis running here and there. I was scared and ran inside the hostel room with another girl. We sat huddled together. Until after a long time, one of the Swamijis came and escorted us out of the room.”

Kusum Pradhan, a Class 6 student, said

:“I too rushed out after hearing the noise. I saw bodies lying in blood. I touched Swamiji’s feet, who was lying in the bathroom. It was still warm but he did not move. Nor did Mataji, who lay inside the room”.

Investigations

The Orissa state crime branch police team, has released computerized sketches of two suspects believed to be the mastermind behind the brutal attack [http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/11/stories/2008091152750300.htm Sketches of suspects of Swami Lakshmanananda murder released] .

On 5 October 2008, Communist Party of India (Maoist) leader Sabyasachi Panda claimed that they killed Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples at his Jalespeta ashram on 23 August. He defended his action and threatened more such murders as they feel that the swami was not fighting for Hindus, but for the "Sang Parivar interests". [cite press release
title = We killed Swami, Maoists say again
publisher = The Times of India
date = Monday, October 6, 2008
language = English
url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/We_killed_Swami_Maoists_say_again/articleshow/3562518.cms
accessdate = 2008-10-05 ] On Monday, October 6, 2008, the Orissa police announced they arrested two Christians in connection with the murder of the Swami. However, the Police have also arrested about 1000 people, mostly Hindus, in connection with the religious violence in Orissa. [ [http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-35824220081006 Orissa arrests 2 Christians for Hindu leader's murder] Reuters India - October 6, 2008] .

ee also

*Bharatiya Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram
*Swami Shanti Kali Maharaj of Tripura
*Religious violence in Orissa

External links

* [http://www.chakapada.org http://www.chakapada.org]

References