Tight security in Kandhamal for Saraswati death anniversary

"As followers of Saraswati plan to observe the VHP leader`s death anniversary tomorrow, elaborate security arrangement have been made," said superintendent of Police (SO) J N Pankaj of Kandhamal district.

Hundreds of monks under the banner of Swami Laxamamnda Saraswati Sradhanjali Smruti Samiti assembled at the district headquarters town of Phulbani and staged a silent dharna demanding arrest of all the killers of the VHP leader.

Saraswati and four of his associates were gunned down by unidentified miscreants at Jalespeta ashram in Kandhamal district on August 23, 2008.

The killing of Saraswati led to a large scale violence in Kandhamal where at least 38 persons were killed.