Bhubaneswar, July 31 - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Manoj Pradhan, an accused in last year's communal violence in Kandhamal district, surrendered before a local court Friday as his bail period got over.

His bail was extended for 15 days by the Orissa High Court on July 17. Pradhan had taken oath as a member of the Orissa assembly after getting bail from the high court on July 6. He had later pleaded for an extension of bail and the court gave him 15 days.

Kandhamal district, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23 last year.

More than 25,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs, who held Christians responsible for Saraswati's killing.