Kandhamal, Orissa: Orissa faces a statewide shutdown on Monday as the BJP and other Sangh Parivaar outfits have called for a 12 hour bandh. This, to protest against the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanand Saraswati and five others in Kandhamal district on Saturday.
The bandh would remain in force at the district headquarters town of Phulbani, Baliguda and Udaigiri from 7 pm on Monday till 8 am tomorrow, they said.
Meanwhile, Kandhmal district authorities have clamped a night-long curfew in three sensitive towns of Orissa — Phulbani, Baligura and Udaygiri — on Monday evening, as the Sangh Parivar insisted on taking the procession of Swami Laxmananand Sarawati's body through the three towns, official sources said.
While curfew was imposed in Baliguda after the procession had already passed through the town, plans are afoot to divert its route without taking the body through the curfew-bound areas of Phulbani and Udaigiri.
People were asked to remain indoors during the curfew period, as violence including stone throwing were seen at several places including Baliguda during the procession.
Meanwhile, rail and road services have been disrupted throughout the state and schools and colleges have been closed. Security arrangements have also been stepped up, with more than 45 patterns of the police force deployed.
In a backlash, two churches were damaged in Nuagaon and Tikapali where the body of the slain VHP leader was taken in a procession on Sunday night.
The cremation will take place on Monday afternoon at Chakpada.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has called for a judicial enquiry into the incident and he has suspended Kandhamal SP for negligence of duty.
The Sangh has blamed the Orissa police for failing to provide the Swami and the Jalaspeta ashram with adequate security.
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