New Delhi (PTI): Accusing the Orissa police of arresting innocent Hindus for the communal violence in the state, VHP today demanded that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik intervene and ensure the arrest of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati's assassins.

"I met the Chief Minister of Orissa a month ago with clinching evidence of Christian involvement in the assassination (of Saraswati) and urged him to apprehend the culprits......But, it appears the government itself is not interested in the return of normalcy, as it is interested in giving the culprits a free run," VHP international president Ashok Singhal said in a statement issued here on Friday.

Singhal alleged the Orissa police have arrested hundreds of Hindus but practically no Christian. "The new DGP is indiscriminately arresting leaders of Hindu organisations that are not related to any case," he said.

The VHP leader said he had requested Patnaik to take the inquiry under his command and apprehend the culprits at the earliest.

Saraswati was killed on August 23 allegedly by Maoists. VHP has, however, maintained that Christians were behind his murder. Violence against Christians and their churches followed his death and such cases are being reportedly even now.

The Centre has asked Orissa to send a report on the communal violence in the state and has also rushed Central paramilitary forces to prevent further violence.