The Odisha Minority Forum (OMF) on Sunday submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee demanding to ensure an impartial inquiry either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the murder of Swami laxmanananda Saraswati on August 23, 2010 in Kandhamal and the post-communal violence.
Stating that the State Government’s role in ensuring justice to the victims, particularly the Christians, and restoring peace in Kandhamal district is not satisfactory, the forum urged the President to direct the Government to undertake corrective measures for restoration of life and liberty as well as security of Christians.
“After five years of the communal violence, the victims have been suffering from various socioeconomic constraints. Similarly, most of the culprits are acquitted due to shoddy investigations by the police in all communal cases and also due to intimidation in the court premises to the witnesses, resulting in loss of faith on the judiciary system. Hence, we urged the President to directly intervene in the matter for speedy justice,” said Forum convenor Jugal Kishore Ranjit.