Attack on Hindu Seer by Evangelical Criminals in Orrisa; 3 arrested

Tension gripped Orissa's Kandhamal district on Monday after four people were injured in a clash between two communities and an attack on An Aged Saint in two separate incidents, prompting heavy force deployment in sensitive areas, police said.

Enraged over the attack on Hindu Seer Sri Laxmanananda Saraswati, aged Dalit Saint in the tribal dominated district, VHP called a four-hour Orissa bandh on Tuesday from 8 am, VHP leader Umashankar Acharya said, Saint Saraswati was injured in the incident.

Saint Saraswati was attacked near Darsinghbadi village on his way to Brahmani village where a group clash had taken place earlier in the morning.

"The situation is completely under control. Three persons have been arrested so far and more people will be arrested this night. We are alert to face the situation," Director General of Police (DGP) Gopal Nanda said. Sources said Saint Saraswati and his personal security officer Kishore Chandra Pradhan and his driver Naresh Kahar were admitted to Darsinghbadi Government Hospital. Eighty-year-old Saint Saraswati had sustained injuries on his nose, they said.

Meanwhile, police planned to shift Pradhan to MKCG medical college hospital in Berhampur as his condition remained critical. Revenue Divisional Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu, who was on his way to the area, said he had asked the district administration to mobilise extra force as the situation became tense after attack on the Aged Hindu Saint.

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