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Security worry for police

BERHAMPUR: Police in Gajapati, Rayagada and Ganjam districts of south Orissa are worried over the security of a sadhu, Laxmi Baba.

Police has requested the sadhu to opt for police security following threat perception to his life from Maoists. But the sadhu is refusing to take police security. The Gajapati district police have already handed over a written request to him asking him to get police security and to avoid all alone in the hills of Mahendragiri. Police force does not want any repetition of the events that followed the killing of Swami Laxmanananda in Kandhamal district in August last.

Laxmi Baba, heads the Mahendragiri Development Committee, an organisation that formed for development of tribals and habitat of Mahendragiri. He has an ashram at secluded area of Mahendragiri. The personnel of Gunupur police station in Rayagada district have also cautioned him to be careful about the Maoists operating in Rayagada district. They have asked him not to move in Gunupur area without informing the police beforehand for the provision of proper police covers.

But the sadhu is continuing to deny accepting police security although it has been decided to depute a sub-inspector to cover him, wherever he travels. It may be noted that police is careful about security of Laxmi Baba, as he is spearheading an agitation against alleged police atrocities against majority community following the recent communal violence. The sadhu is now in Ganjam district and refusing to accept police security.

He also met Berhampur SP over the matter. Meanwhile some local newspapers hinted that he would be next target of Maoists.

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