Bhubaneswar, Aug 25 (PTI) Two persons, including a woman, were burnt to death, a pastor critically injured and at least a dozen churches were torched during a 12-hour bandh called today in Orissa by the saffron brigade in protest against the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.
The woman was burnt to death when unidentified persons torched an orphanage run by a Christian organisation at Phutpali in Bargarh district, official sources said.
Twenty children, who were at the orphanage, managed to escape but a pastor suffered serious burn injuries in the attack, the sources said.
Another person, identified as Rasananda Pradhan, was burnt to death when his house was set ablaze at Rupa village in Kandhamal district where the VHP leader was gunned down along with four others on Saturday night.
Churches were attacked in Khurda, Bargarh, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Koraput, Boudh, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur and Kandhamal districts as also in the state capital, police sources said, adding 40 houses were set ablaze in Phulbani town.
As the body of Saraswati reached Chakapada in Kandhamal district for the last rites, nine shops and two vehicles were torched at Raikia while two jeeps were burnt by miscreants at Udaygiri.
Home Secretary Tarunkanti Mishra told reporters that he had information about the two casualties.
Mishra said the bandh called by the Sangh Parivar was "total and by and large peaceful". PTI
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The mob reportedly ordered people out of building before setting it alight.
But the woman - a cook at the orphanage - was thrown into the burning building when she tried to stop them from attacking the children.
Local Hindus went on the rampage after the killing on Saturday of one of their leaders.
His supporters suspect Christians were responsible, but the police believe he was killed by Maoist rebels.
The religious leader, Swami Laxamanananda Saraswati, was at the centre of controversy late last year.
Hindus accused Christians of attacking him and police were called in to restore order in the ensuing violence.
Hindu extremists have targeted Christians in Orissa before. Nine years ago an Australian missionary and his two sons were burnt alive by a mob that set their car on fire.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7581154.stm
