Probe into Kandhamal riots nowhere near completion
The one-man probe panel, being headed by retired Orissa High Court judge Justice A.S. Naidu, is taking more time primarily due to lack of cooperation from the Odisha government as well as witnesses who had filed affidavits before it, official sources told The Hindu on Saturday.
In fact, the Commission, which was set up in September 2008 under Justice Sarat Chandra Mohapatra, had not received a single affidavit initially even after it published two advertisements seeking information about the murder and the riots.
The Commission is probing the sequence of events and circumstances leading to the murder of Saraswati at his Jalespata ashram in Kandhamal between 7 50 p.m. and 8 15 p.m. on August 23, 2008.
The panel is also probing the role of individuals in precipitating the murder and the subsequent riots, and also the role of organisations, groups and agencies precipitating the communal violence and measures taken by the State government in anticipation of the riots.
It had started receiving affidavits only after it requested all District Collectors in the State to circulate the notice about the probe that requiring people to file affidavits.
Though the VHP leader was allegedly shot dead by Maoists on August 23 evening, riots broke out in different parts of Kandhamal after Mr. Saraswati’s funeral procession was taken out from Jalespata ashram to Chakapada ashram located at the other end of the district by the Sangh Parivar on August 25.
The parivar alleged that members of the Christian community were behind the murder of Mr. Saraswati.
Justice Mohapatra passed away in May 2012 after which Justice Naidu had taken charge.
Truth about the anti-Christian riots in Odisha’s Kandhamal district in 2008 may not come to light even after the arrest of top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda as the Commission of Inquiry probing it is likely to complete the inquiry only after one and a half years from now.
Though the police have named Panda as the main accused in the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati that triggered riots and the case may take a few years to be disposed of in the court, the Commission is still in the process of examining the witnesses. The final report of the Commission is likely to bring out the truth about the circumstances leading to the murder and the subsequent riots that claimed at least 30-odd lives and burning down of hundreds of houses.
Though the police have named Panda as the main accused in the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati that triggered riots and the case may take a few years to be disposed of in the court, the Commission is still in the process of examining the witnesses. The final report of the Commission is likely to bring out the truth about the circumstances leading to the murder and the subsequent riots that claimed at least 30-odd lives and burning down of hundreds of houses.
The one-man probe panel, being headed by retired Orissa High Court judge Justice A.S. Naidu, is taking more time primarily due to lack of cooperation from the Odisha government as well as witnesses who had filed affidavits before it, official sources told The Hindu on Saturday.
In fact, the Commission, which was set up in September 2008 under Justice Sarat Chandra Mohapatra, had not received a single affidavit initially even after it published two advertisements seeking information about the murder and the riots.
The Commission is probing the sequence of events and circumstances leading to the murder of Saraswati at his Jalespata ashram in Kandhamal between 7 50 p.m. and 8 15 p.m. on August 23, 2008.
The panel is also probing the role of individuals in precipitating the murder and the subsequent riots, and also the role of organisations, groups and agencies precipitating the communal violence and measures taken by the State government in anticipation of the riots.
It had started receiving affidavits only after it requested all District Collectors in the State to circulate the notice about the probe that requiring people to file affidavits.
Though the VHP leader was allegedly shot dead by Maoists on August 23 evening, riots broke out in different parts of Kandhamal after Mr. Saraswati’s funeral procession was taken out from Jalespata ashram to Chakapada ashram located at the other end of the district by the Sangh Parivar on August 25.
The parivar alleged that members of the Christian community were behind the murder of Mr. Saraswati.
The Commission, which received 750 affidavits from both government and private persons, has so far examined 65 government officials, including top police and administration staff, and as many as 170 private witnesses, including BJP leader and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram.
Many private witnesses were yet to be examined and more government officials may be examined if their names figured during the examination of any witness in the coming days, sources said. The Commission had submitted an interim report to the State government in June 2009 when Justice Mohapatra was heading it.
Many private witnesses were yet to be examined and more government officials may be examined if their names figured during the examination of any witness in the coming days, sources said. The Commission had submitted an interim report to the State government in June 2009 when Justice Mohapatra was heading it.
Justice Mohapatra passed away in May 2012 after which Justice Naidu had taken charge.
Commission still examining the witnesses
Lack of government cooperation alleged
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