Two persons were arrested in connection with the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati who was gunned down by unidentified persons on Saturday night even as Orissa government admitted lapses might have occured in his security.
Home Secretary T K Mishra refused to divulge which community the two arrested persons belonged.
"There could have been lapses on the security of Saraswati. Therefore, Kandhmal SP Nikhil Kanodia and Officer-in-charge of Tumudibandha police station Jena were placed under suspension", Home Secretary T K Mishra said.
Mishra told reporters that though the police were yet to pinpoint lapses in the security which appeared to be inadequate.
"It is the responsibility of the local police station and the district SP to deal with threats of important personalities", he said conceding that though police were informed about the danger to Saraswati's life, necessary arrangements were not in place.
Saraswati had earlier escaped at least nine attempts on his life, police sources said.
Though Mishra had on Sunday ruled out possibility of communal dimension to Saraswati's killing, he said today that police were probing all angles, including involvement of Maoists, in the incident.
He said the kind of arms used and the manner in which the attackers executed the killing indicated Maoists' involvement.
He said though the state had asked for four battalions of para-military force, the Centre sent only three companies of Rapid Action Force and two companies would be sent to Kandhmal district. The other company would be kept in reserve.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
2 persons arrested for killing Saraswati
