Kandhamal tense again as posters threaten BJP MLA

This is the place which bore the brunt of the anti-Christian riots that followed the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda. At least 38 people were killed in the riots and hundreds were rendered homeless in the violence.

Police officials said the threat posters could have been the handiwork of Maoists as the area has a strong rebel presence. But they said they were also examining other possibilities.

Pradhan,who won by a margin of more than 24,000 votes in the Assembly elections this year,has been behind bars since last year. The 35-year-old RSS worker has 13 riot cases lodged against him including seven cases of murder in last years riots.

We have tightened security at the sub-jail in G. Udayagiri,where Pradhan is lodged, said Kandhamal SP Praveen Kumar.