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Police have additionally arrested a sitting BJD corporator, Malay Bisoi, for his alleged energetic involvement within the crime. All the arrested individuals have been forwarded to court docket.
“Both Bikram Panda and Das have been nursing private {and professional} enmity with the deceased. They conspired to eradicate him and employed contract killers by their shut associates. They believed that the lawyer had change into a stumbling block of their political development,” stated Berhampur Superintendent of Police Saravana Vivek M. whereas addressing a press convention on Wednesday (October 22, 2025).
Mr. Saravana added that former MLA Panda had satisfied Das that they may safe the disqualification of the present Berhampur MLA by an election petition. “After the disqualification, Panda was below the impression that he would change into the MLA and assist Das return to the mayor’s publish,” the SP stated.
Mr. Saravana stated, “former mayor Das had organized for an election petition to be filed by a every day wager identified to him, whereas all recurring authorized bills have been borne by Panda.”
Pitabas Panda, additionally a BJP chief, was shot useless at point-blank vary by employed gunmen on the night time of October 6. According to the SP, the lawyer had secured the very best variety of votes within the State Bar Council election however was unable to carry any important place thereafter. The deceased reportedly believed that former MLA Panda was chargeable for his failure to imagine any workplace. The lawyer had publicly threatened to destroy political profession of Panda.
Elaborating on the homicide plot, the Berhampur SP stated the conspirators had made two earlier makes an attempt on Panda’s life in September and October. “Two criminals from Bihar have been initially employed to hold out the killing and had performed reconnaissance of Panda’s actions. However, the plan was aborted in September as a result of a medical emergency involving one in every of them. Subsequently, one other group of assassins was engaged,” Mr. Saravana stated.
The employed killers have been promised ₹50 lakh for executing the homicide, the SP added. Three key accused, together with Kurupati Bhuyan, who fired bullet, have been nonetheless at giant.
Reacting to the arrest of Bikram Panda, the BJD stated the previous MLA had been made a “sacrificial lamb” and had no involvement within the crime.
“The police performed a shoddy investigation below the route of the BJP authorities and fabricated your entire homicide concept to focus on the BJD chief. State Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena was truly concerned within the crime, however the authorities sought to protect him as his arrest would have introduced disrepute to the administration, particularly at a time when the BJP sensed it was shedding the Nuapada bypoll,” alleged senior BJD chief Pramila Mallick.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari stated it was unlucky that the BJD was making an attempt to protect criminals even after the police had performed a foolproof investigation and revealed who employed the killers, provided the homicide weapon, and offered them shelter.
The homicide had triggered outrage throughout the nation. Both the Bar Council of India and the Odisha State Bar Council had condemned the killing and demanded instant arrest of individuals concerned within the crime.
Published – October 22, 2025 03:24 pm IST
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