Hindu fundamentalist use the death of their leader to scapegoat christians across Orissa. Is Orissa the next Gujarat?
Reports of further killings are coming through. Kundan ** *Orissa tragedy takes a backseat, hunt starts for scapegoat* http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=77a77400-59d2-4c5c-88a2-9d1b50e06690&ParentID=1a09c30e-5cff-4803-80e9-b00dc7eb3620&&Headline=Orissa+tragedy+takes+a+backseat The killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a member of VHP's margadarshak mandal, has once again sparked communal fires in Orissa. Last December, Kandhamal district, where the swami was based, saw a major communal clash – which lasted nearly a week — after the swami's vehicle was stopped and he was attacked, allegedly by a Christian mob. This time the disturbances are not confined to Kandhamal but have spread across 12 districts. Orissa's DGP Gopal Nanda has said that the swami was killed in a Maoist attack, but the VHP and Bajrang Dal refuse to believe him. *A calibrated campaign has begun to blame the Christian community for the killing.* The tragedy — five people were murdered at the swami's Jaleshpata Ashram — has receded into the background; it is the hunt for the scapegoat that is in the forefront. *"A conspiracy was hatched to eliminate Swami Laxmanananda," declared Subhash Chavan, national co-convener of the Bajrang Dal. " The police are trying to hide the truth by blaming the Maoists." Sadly, the sustained propaganda seems to have worked. Hindu-Christian tensions have simmered in Orissa for a long time and Monday's bandh, called by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, provided an opportunity to settle scores. * Chavan called the bandh a 'spontaneous success'. But while it may indeed have brought Orissa to a halt, it was far from peaceful with churches, as well as orphanages and schools run by Christians being attacked in several places. The state government in a damage-limitation exercise has suspended the Kandhamal superintendent of police. But the BJP, being part of the ruling coalition, and clearly keen to provide the VHP and Bajrang Dal tacit support, has been trying its best to restrain the security agencies from cracking down on the Hindu mobs. The Congress too appears more keen to score political points rather than devise ways to contain the communal fire. It has already moved a no-confidence motion against the Biju Janata Dal-BJP government. "All district collectors report to revenue minister Manmohan Samal, who belongs to the BJP," noted Janardan Pati, Orissa CPM state secretary. "How far can they go? ** ** *Bandh turns into hooligans' day out * Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, Aug 25: Palpable fear and tension prevailed in most parts of the state as VHP and its affiliates backed actively by the BJP imposed a 12 hour bandh and *criminals targeted places of worship, orphanages and institutions run by minority community* to protest against the ghastly murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples. Life came to a complete standstill across the state. Road and rail transport was paralysed. Banks and educational institutions, factors, shops and business establishments all remained closed. Interestingly even the official version was that the bandh was a 'success', though it did claim it to be 'by and large peaceful with no major untoward incident reported'. Home Secretary Mr Tarun Kanti Mishra informed that the government had sought additional paramilitary forces from the Centre. "Already three companies of Rapid Action Force are on their way from Jamshedpur, two companies will be deployed in Kandhamal" he said. This was on the face of the fact that at least a dozen prayer halls and places of worship were attacked, scores of government vehicles damaged and torched, certain NGO and minority run institutions ransacked in different parts of the state. Curfew was re-imposed after a brief period of relaxation during which a place of worship was attacked in Phulbani, Tikabalim Nuagaon and Baliguda areas of the worst affected Kandhamal district. Shockingly even in the state capital, the police stood and watched bandh supporters tussle with passersby including doctors. A* doctor couple pleaded to be allowed to go to the hospital and requested policemen for help but were flatly told to take care of themselves. A ambulance carrying a doctor to hospital for duty was attacked.* Incidentally the doctor happened to be the son of a BJD minister. A educational institution was ransacked in the state capital while criminals pelted stones at a place of worship. Meanwhile the funeral of Laxanananda Saraswati took place at Chakapada in Kandhamal district today with the top brass of the VHP including Mr Pravin Bhai Togadia and a couple of BJP ministers attending it. The entire area was sealed by the supporters of Laxanananda who debarred the police from entering it saying they had no faith on the police administration and were competent to take care of themselves. Mr Togadia and other leaders later addressed a meeting at Chakapada where thousands had congregated for the samadi. Reports from districts said that the bandh was a resounding success. NH wore a deserted look. Violence erupted in many parts of Koraput district. Buildings including some prayer halls were attacked by the agitators in Bariniput, Kaliagaon near Jeypore and at Narayanapatna block headquarters. The agitators apart from damaging portions of the houses and other establishments torched three vehicles. NTPC and Nalco power plants in Angul district functioned normally while all the coal mines were stopped from operation. The Talcher Thermal power station main gate was blocked by the activists the whole day not allowing workers to enter the plant. However the power generation was not affected due to blockade as the insider works in the plant for the day. Tension gripped parts of the communally sensitive Bhadrak district. A school was ransacked and four buses damaged. Even in Jajpur district a educational institution and a place of worship was attacked by criminals. Exploration of ore, loading and unloading and even transportation of minerals in Komarda, Tailangi, Sukrangi, Ostapal, COB, IMFA, Chingudipal, Kaliapani, ACC, Balasore Ispat, Jindal Stainless, South Kaliapani, Kathapal and Facor chromites mines in the Sukinda vally had been stopped since Monday morning. Blockade at different locations by the Saffron brigades on the Daitary-Paradip Express Highway and NH-5 (a) disrupting transport of minerals from Sukhinda chromite and Daitari iron ore mine in the district. At least 5 people mostly VHP activists were injured in a group clash in Dobandha village, 15 km from here, late this afternoon triggering tension in and around Kendrapara district today. The incident, according to police sources, took place when VHP activists allegedly used force to shutdown the shops in the village.
