By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 22, 2015 : The report is finally out. Justice AS Naidu Commission of Inquiry, set up by Odisha government to probe the 2008 Kandhamal riots, presented its final report to the State government on Tuesday.

Justice Naidu indicated the much publicized reports in mass media that there was involvement of Maoists in the killing of the VHP leader.
The report was presented to the principal secretary, Home, by the secretary to the Commission AK Patnaik.

“The Commission has compiled the final report in two volumes with a total of 1020 pages. During the investigation, a total of 825 affidavits were filed while 300 persons had deposed before the Commission as witnesses of whom 78 are government employees and 222 general public. Apart from this, the Commission, in course of its investigation, has verified documents of about 4000 pages,” Patnaik told the media persons after presenting the report of the Commission.

Justice Naidu has advised the government to maintain peace and tranquility in the riot-hit area saying, “I have given some suggestions to the government to maintain communal harmony in the area,” said Justice Naidu, adding that

The Commission of Inquiry was instituted on September 8, 2008 after communal riots broke out in Kandhamal district and other parts of the State following the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates at his Chakapada Ashram on August 23.

The State government had appointed Justice Sarat Chandra Mohapatra to conduct the inquiry. After his demise, Justice AS Naidu was appointed by the government to head the one-man probe panel in 2012.

The Commission was entrusted with the job of probing the sequence of events and circumstances leading to the murder of Saraswati at his ashram.

Saraswati and four of his aides were killed at his ashram at Jaleshpata in Kandhamal district on August 23, 2008. The killing had triggered communal violence in Kandhamal and adjoining areas in which at least 38 people were killed.

The VHP leader was suspected to be shot dead by Maoists on August 23 evening following which riots broke out in different parts of Kandhamal during Saraswati’s funeral procession from Jalespata ashram to Chakapada ashram located at the other end of the district on August 25.

The Sangh Parivar had alleged that members of the Christian community were behind the murder of Saraswati.