Bhubaneswar: Eight days after ordering a judicial probe into the killing of Laxamananda Saraswati and four others at Jaleshpatta Ashram in Orissa's Kandhamal district, the state government today said that Justice Sarat Chandra Mohapatra would head the inquiry commission.

"Justice Mohapatra will inquire into the killing and communal violence taking place across the state thereafter," an official at the Chief Minister s Office said here.

Justice Mohapatra, a retired judge of the Orissa High Court, had retired as the Lok Pal barely two days ago.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on August 24 had recommended the judicial probe after rejecting demands for a CBI probe by opposition parties and members of the Christian community.

Sources said though the judicial commission was yet to start working, the police had begun investigation into the killing of Saraswati and others.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed and highly professional personnel were taken as members of the SIT, Director General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda said, expressing confidence about apprehending the culprits soon. Police was probing the incident keeping dual options open, that of the involvement of left wing extremists and religious fundamentalists behind the killing.
Source : PTI