The police in Orissa believe the killing of Laxmanananda Saraswati has split the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), with some Hindu members breaking away to form a rival group called the IDGA-Maoist. In fact, the new group has called for a bandh in Kandhamal, Gajapati and Ganjam districts on January 3 when it will formally come into being.

Some posters of the new group have been spotted in Kandhamal. “We are keenly watching the formation of the new group,” said DIG Sanjib Panda.

The police said IDGA-Maoist is an acronym for “Idealise of Democrat Garila (Guerrilla) Army (Maoist)”. The breakaway IDGA’s posters have denounced the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the military wing of the CPI-Maoist, and its leader Sabyasachi Panda for the VHP leader’s death.

Though it is yet to be established whether the splinter group would actually take off on January 3, police officials admit there have been rumblings in the Maoist ranks after the Swami’s killing on August 23. In October, CPI(Maoist) leader Sabyasachi Panda had told a few mediapersons that his cadres had killed Saraswati for trying to convert tribals into Hindus. “We had asked Laxmanananda to desist from anti-Christian activities. He created a riot in December 2007 and subsequently targeted people indulging in cow slaughter,” he had said.

“It is a fact that Christians are in majority in our organisation. Our supporters in Orissa’s Rayagada, Gajapati and Kandhamal also belong to the Christian community,” said the DIG. “The persons who have broken away could be Hindus. Everything would be clear after the January 3 bandh call,” he added.