Sabyasachi Panda is a Naxalite-Maoist leader from India. 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

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

s 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 Kandhamal district is a district in the state of Odisha, India. The district headquarters of the district is Phulbani. Kandhamal is famous for its local turmeric renowned as 'Kandhamal Haldi' which has earned the Geographical indication (GI) tag ...

district in 2008 that had triggered communal violence in the region. He was expelled by the CPI(Maoist) and then he floated a new party called the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist-Maoist). 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 The Odisha Police abbreviated as either OP or OPS, is the law enforcement agency for the state of Odisha in India. It is headquartered in Cuttack, the former capital of Odisha. The Odisha Police is headed by a Director General of Police, curren ...

raided a Maoist hideout in Ganjam district on the basis of intelligence inputs and arrested Sabyasachi Panda from

Berhampur Brahmapur (; also known as Berhampur) is a city on the eastern coastline of Ganjam district of the Indian state of Odisha. Bramhapur is most famous for its street food, silk sarees or pato sarees, temples and many historical places. Bramhapur al ...

. 45-year-old Sabyasachi Panda carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head. Panda was captured on 18 July 2014 by Indian security forces in Ganjam District, Odisha.

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. He is married to Subhashree or Mili Panda from Nimapara.

Murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and his followers

Panda has been implicated in the 2008 murder of Swami

Lakshmanananda Saraswati Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati (–23 August 2008) and four of his disciples were murdered on 23 August 2008 in the State of Odisha in India. Saraswati was a Hindu monk and a Vishva Hindu Parishad leader. Seven tribal people of Christian religi ...

and four of his followers in

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 Khonds (also spelt Kondha, Kandha etc.) are an indigenous Adivasi tribal community in India. Traditionally hunter-gatherers, they are divided into the hill-dwelling Khonds and plain-dwelling Khonds for census purposes; All the Khonds identify ...

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. He was expelled by the CPI(Maoist) and then he floated a new party called the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist-Maoist).

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

raided a Maoist hideout in Ganjam district on the basis of intelligence inputs and captured Panda in

, where he been hiding. The arrest was successfully carried out by the

. The forty-five-year-old carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Panda, Sabyasachi Naxalites Indian communists Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Crime in Odisha Communist Party of India (Maoist) politicians