Four people arrested in Swami Laxmananda murder case

Police on Sunday arrested four people for their alleged involvement in the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati on August 23, 2008, in Orissa.

"Four persons were arrested today (Sunday)," state Inspector General of Police (Crime Branch) Arun Kumar Ray told IANS.

"Some more persons were also detained for questioning," he said without confiding the details of people arrested.

Overall, seven people have been arrested in the murder case, including three persons detained on October last week.

It was the murder of Saraswati that witnessed one of the largest violence on minority Christians in India. The barbarous attacks killed over a hundred and forced thousands to flee to forests.

Although Maoists took complete responsibility for the slaying, Hindu fundamentalists have been ceaselessly accusing Christians.

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Smuti Samiti has called for a statewide agitation on December 25 - which Christians fear might spark fresh violence and dampen the Christmas spirit in the state.