Maoists threaten to kill Hindu cleric

A Hindu cleric in Orissa said he received a letter from Maoist guerrillas, threatening to kill him like they killed Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

A Hindu cleric in Orissa on Friday said he received a letter from Maoist guerrillas, threatening to kill him like they killed Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

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Swami Arupananda, president of the Nikhil Utkal Math-Mandiradhish Sevasangha, said he has informed the state police authorities about the letter and sought protection.

Security has been beefed up around the house of Swami Arupananda after the threat to his life, police inspector Tapan K. Mohanty told IANS.

"I have received the letter in Oriya recently through post. They have said they will kill me the way they killed Swami Laxamananda Saraswati," Arupananda told IANS.

VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides were killed August 23 last year in Kandhamal district allegedly by Maoist rebels, triggering communal violence in Orissa.