Maoist couple surrender, say they murdered Swami Laxmananda Saraswati

Claiming that they murdered VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, a young Maoist couple on Wednesday surrendered before the police in Orissa.

Superintendent of Police AK Singh told media that a rebel couple identified as Surendra Vekwara (19) and his wife Ruby (18) from Rayagada district surrendered before the police after divulging that they murdered Saraswati last year.

The 84-year-old Hindu monk and four of his aides were allegedly murdered by the Maoists at Jaleshpata Ashram in Kandhamal August 23, 2008.

Despite Christian groups condemning the murder of Swami and sternly denying any involvement in the slaying, Hindu extremists accused Christians and indulged in barbarous violence against the community.

The surrender of the young couple now will not only exculpate Christians but will also be of a major breakthrough in the sensational murder case.

The couple after their surrender told the police that they have given up violence and wants to lead a normal life, responding to the state government call urging naxalites to "lay down arms and join the mainstream."

"We are fed up with Maoist violence. We want to begin a normal life by joining the mainstream," police quoted the couple as saying.

Surendra and Ruby belong to the Bansadhara division of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist).

Apart from Saraswati's murder, the rebel couple has also admitted their involvement in various other naxal attacks in the southern region of the state.

The breakthrough has come two months after the Orissa police claimed to have arrested a top Maoist leader who reportedly planned the assassination of Swami that triggered communal clashes against Christians.

Udaya alias P. Rama Rao, the commander of the Maoists in Kandhamal, Rayagada and Gajapati districts, was arrested during a raid on their Gudari forest hideout. Udaya was involved in over 20 cases of murder, rioting and looting of government armouries.