Sabyasachi Panda

Sabyasachi Panda is a Naxalite-Maoist leader from India.[1] He was wanted by the state police of several states in India for his involvement in criminal activities. He came into international news in 2012, for his alleged engineering of the kidnapping of two Italians nationals. He is also alleged to have involved and wanted in more than 50 criminal cases, including the murder of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati and four of his aides in Kandhamal district in 2008 that had triggered communal violence in the region.[2] He was expelled by the CPI(Maoist) and then he floated a new party called the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist-Maoist).[2] He was also wanted in the abduction case of two Italian tourists, who were released later in March 2012. On 18 July 2014 Odisha Police raided a Maoist hideout in Ganjam district on the basis of intelligence inputs and arrested Sabyasachi Panda from Berhampur.[3] 45-year-old Sabyasachi Panda carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.

Naxal leader Sabyasachi Panda (L to R) in his youth, in his 30th, just after arrest

Panda was captured on 18 July 2014 by Indian security forces in Ganjam District, Odisha.[4]

Early life and education

Panda is a son of a freedom fighter and three-time CPI(M) MLA from Ranpur, Ramesh Panda. He graduated in mathematics from Puri’s Samant Chandra Shekhar government college.[5] He is married to Subhashree or Mili Panda from Nimapara.[6]

Murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and his followers

Panda has been implicated in the 2008 murder of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his followers in Kandhamal district. The eighty-four-year-old monk had dedicated his life to Ghar Vapsi and to the ancient Vedic and Aryan traditions of the Khond vanavasis and they revered him. The murder of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, combined with Christian Charity and upliftment efforts of the Panna Christian community, would trigger communal violence between the two groups.[2] He was expelled by the CPI(Maoist) and then he floated a new party called the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist-Maoist).[2]

Other crimes

He was also wanted in the abduction case of two Italian tourists, who were released later in March 2012.

Capture

On 18 July 2014 Odisha Police raided a Maoist hideout in Ganjam district on the basis of intelligence inputs and captured Panda in Berhampur, where he been hiding.[3] The arrest was successfully carried out by the Odisha Police.[7] The forty-five-year-old carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.

References
  1. "Sabyasachi seeks clarification in fresh tape; No word from Hikaka abductors". Times of India. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  2. Nagpal, Deepak (18 July 2014). "Top Naxal leader Sabyasachi Panda arrested in Odisha: Reports". Zee News. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  3. "Odisha's top Maoist Sabyasachi Panda arrested in Ganjam district". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  4. "Sabyasachi Panda, Odisha's Most Wanted Naxal Leader, Arrested". NDTV. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  5. "The Final Battle of Sabyasachi Panda". openthemagazine.com. 25 August 2012.
  6. Mohanty, Meera (21 March 2014). "Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda's wife Mili Panda makes political debut in Odisha". Economic Times. PTI. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  7. "Top Naxal leader Sabyasachi Panda arrested in Odisha: Reports". Patrika Group. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
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