Top police officers accused of inaction during Kandhamal violence

Over a dozen police officers were accused of failing to contain the anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal by Hindu extremists last year.

In a letter to the Director General of Police Manmohan Praharaj, a senior IPS officer A K Upadhyay has alleged that about 13 top police officers failed to perform their duties during 2008's violence on Christians.

He also said for the same reason the officers failed to appear before the investigating Justice S C Mohapatra Commission.

"These officers may be asked to file affidavits about action taken by them to control the riots," Upadhyay wrote in the letter.

The senior police official also demanded the withdrawal of President's Award to those who failed to act during the riots.

Meanwhile, supporting the argument that police were inactive, former DGP Gopal Nanda said police had prior information that Saraswati was under threat from some group.

"We had information that Saraswati was under threat from some quarter. But we did not have information that he was on the target of Maoists, so the security provided wasn't of the scale to counter such an attack," said Nanda.

But, the Orissa police denied of receiving any such letter before Swami Laxmananda Saraswati was killed. According to some sources, one Pahari Group had given a letter on August 21, 2008 threatening dire consequences for the VHP leader.

The killing of the Saraswati and four of his associates at Jalespeta ashram in Kandhamal district on August 23 last year had led to largescale violence and rioting on Christians.