The VHP and RSS held silent protests on the Janmashtami which last year fell on August 23 - the day Saraswati was murdered by suspected Maoists at his Jalespatha ashram.
No violence was reported in Kandhamal on Thursday as Hindu groups took to the streets to observe the first death anniversary of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.
The VHP and RSS held silent protests on the Janmashtami, August 13, which last year fell on August 23 - the day Saraswati was murdered by suspected Maoists at his Jaleshpata Ashram.
The Orissa administration strictly banned any protests or demonstrations fearing that it would spark fresh violence on the Christian community. Following the restrictions, the Sangh Parivar decided to hold a silent march in Phulbani, the administrative headquarters of Kandhamal district.
“We have not allowed anybody to hold any rally because of the volatile situation in Kandhamal district”, said district collector Kishan Kumar.
To make sure no untoward incident occurred, the administration had deployed over 50 platoons of armed forces, including CRPF, state armed police and Special Operations Group. The forces will be deployed at least till August 23.
Vehicles were checked at different entry points and Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj camped in Kandhamal for two days to beef up security measures.
The arrangements were made after Maoist posters declaring August 13 as "Vijay Divas" to celebrate their slaying of the Hindu monk was seen at G Udayagiri and Raikia.
The posters with the symbol of banned CPI (Maoist) are "suspected to be the work of mischief mongers," said a Raikia police officer.
Meanwhile, in Bhubaneswar, the VHP organised a silent sit-in to protest Saraswati’s murder and submitted a memorandum to Governor MC Bhandare demanding “swift action against the conspirators.”
The memorandum criticised the "Naveen Patnaik government for its vote bank politics" and "shielding the culprits and blaming innocent Hindu tribals for the communal flare up.”
It also said that the government acted partially rendering relief to a particular community, while ignoring Hindus who were also victims in the violence.
"The state and Central governments are paying compensation only to Christian victims and for the renovation of Churches, ignoring similarly-affected Hindus and their temples. It is a biased step by a constitutional body," the memorandum said.
Among others was the demand to implement the anti-conversion law, which they said would curb "religious conversions". They demanded the implementation of Orissa Freedom of Religion Act (OFRA).
Saraswati’s murder last year triggered widespread violence against Christians in the tribal district of Kandhamal. According to the All India Christian Council, the violence damaged 315 villages and destroyed 4,640 Christian houses. In addition, 70 people were killed; 18,000 Christians were injured and 54,000 were rendered homeless.
