Fresh attacks on Christians as RSS activist killed in Orissa

The murder of a senior Hindu activist by suspected Maoists has sparked fresh violence on Christians in the state of Orissa.

The 40-year-old Dhanu Pradhani was on Wednesday killed by a group of unidentified Maoists.

According to police officials, three people came on a motorcycle and shot the staunch RSS activist dead at Kumarigaon village. However they are still clueless if the killing has any connection to the communal violence that followed the August 23 killing of another Hindu leader.

"There was no major violence in the district since September 30. The Wednesday murder has, however, renewed tension," a district administration official said.

While Police blamed the Maoists for the crime, Pradhani's brother Ananda alleged that some members of the local Christian community killed him. Pradhani was believed to be in the Maoists hit list.

On August 23, a prominent VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides were murdered by suspected Maoists. Although the Maoists claimed responsibility for the slaying, Hindu fundamentalists accused Christians and instigated attacks on its members.

Following the violence, over 50,000 people were forced to flee to forests and at least 300 churches were burnt.

The attacks have been condemned by the Vatican and described as "a national shame" by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Christians account for 2.3 percent of India's billion–plus Hindu majority population.