9th July, 2008 - Bandh in Kandhamal

The Viswa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal have called a bandh in Kandhamal district on Wednesday following an attack on an inmate of an ashram and a Baba at Jalespata under Tumudibandha Police station limits of the district on Tuesday. Reports said some people reportedly assaulted Bula Baba of Jalespatta ashram, run by Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, in village Malipada with weapons when the Baba protested slaughtering of cows.Immediately the news spread and the inmates of the ashram along with VHP activists blocked the main road. Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who was present in the ashram, started a dharna in front of the Tumudibandha police station demanding arrest of the accused persons. Security has been tightened in all the churches.(This was reported by Express News Service)