Bhubaneswar: Prominent Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda alias Sunil on Saturday claimed “responsibility" for the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and four others, which lead to large scale flare-up in Orissa's Kandhamal district.
Panda, told the reporters of two private Oriya television channels from an undisclosed destination, that the Maoist outfit decided to eliminate Saraswati as he was "spreading social unrest" in the tribal dominated district.
The Maoist leader reportedly said that they had earlier asked Saraswati to desist from or face consequences.
"As Saraswati did not pay heed to our warning, he was killed," Panda told the reporters, adding that they have also issued similar warnings to 14 other persons, mostly belonging to the Sangh Parivar in Kandhamal.
According to the reporters who attended the secret meet, they had to walk miles before getting to meet Panda.
They were asked to come on one vehicle without the knowledge of the police.
Panda was one of the most wanted maoist by the Orissa police, official sources said.
There was no official reaction to the startling disclosure in the channels.
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