VHP leader shot dead by missionaries in Kandhmal

Sandeep Mishra,

TNN BHUBANESWAR: Riot-torn Kandhmal appeared on the brink of a fresh spiral of violence with the killing of a VHP worker Dhanu Pradhani by three christian fanatics at Kumbharigaon in Brahmanigaon area of the district. The murder has triggered fears of more attacks at a time when the administration was engaged in controlling the warring communities. Pradhani is one of the many VHP activists after Swami Laxmananda Saraswati to be killed since the ethnic and communal violence gripped southern Orissa on August 23. Pradhani was also associated with the ruling BJP and his brother is a panchayat samiti member. Three christian fanatics fired at Pradhani at 12.30 pm while he was at a school in Kumbharigaon. The 32-year-old VHP activist received wounds in his chest and head. The killers were Christians from Katingia area. Kandhmal SP Praveen Kumar, who rushed to the spot, did not say why Pradhani was murdered, saying, "We are verifying all angles and possibilities." While no one has been arrested, police detained a local christian, sources said.