The
local police in Berhampur town in Ganjam district, a major political and
business hub in southern Odisha, arrested Bikram Panda, a former MLA of the
BJD, the principal opposition party in the state, in connection with a high
profile and sensational murder case. The development has become a major setback
for Naveen Patnaik led regional outfit on the eve of a crucial assembly
by-election.
Pitabas Panda, a BJP leader and a
senior advocate of Berhampur was shot dead by two assailants from point blank
range in front of his residence on October 6. He died on the spot. The murder
which had rocked the entire state had also triggered protests by lawyers in all
the districts. The murdered senior advocate was also a member of state bar
council.
Apart
from the ex-BJD MLA, the police also arrested Siba Shankar Das, a former Mayor
of Berhampur Municipal Corporation(BeMC), a sitting Corporator besides a few
other local BJD leaders in connection with the case.
According to the police, Bikram Panda and Das had hatched a conspiracy
to eliminate the senior advocate with the help of two Supari(hired) killers
whom they had promised to pay Rupees fifty lakhs. The police have also managed
to nab both the hired killers.
However,
the BJD has completely rejected its former party MLA’s involvement in the
murder case and alleged that it was nothing but a game plan of the ruling BJP
to defame and tarnish the image the principal opposition party before the
crucial by-poll for the Nuapara assembly seat. The important by-election, first
in the state since the formation of the
new BJP government is scheduled to be held November 11.
Soon after
Bikram Panda’s arrest was made public by the police, local BJD workers and
leaders in Berhampur staged a demonstration near police superintendent’s office
protesting the ex-MLA’s arrest. Police officials, nevertheless, claimed that they
have enough evidences to establish the former law maker’s hand in the crime.
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