Former Berhampur MLA Bikram Panda arrested for Pitabash Panda murder. Case sparks political tensions; firearm recovered, investigation ongoing
OdishaPlus Bureau
Former Berhampur MLA and Biju Janata Dal president for Ganjam district, Bikram Panda, has been taken into custody regarding the murder of Pitabash Panda, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a lawyer, as reported by police on Wednesday. This arrest has led to protests from his supporters.
Pitabash, who was a member of the Odisha Bar Council, was fatally shot by two assailants on a motorcycle near his residence in Berhampur late on October 6. The incident has incited widespread outrage concerning the law-and-order situation in the state.
Panda was apprehended at his residence in Gajapatinagar late Tuesday night on charges of criminal conspiracy. He, along with former Berhampur mayor Siba Shankar Das, a former corporator, and nine others, was presented before a local court in Berhampur.
Four individuals, including the assailants, are reported to be at large. Authorities suspect that personal rivalry, political aspirations, and financial losses may have motivated the murder, pointing to a financial transaction between the former MLA and the deceased.
The firearm used in the crime has also been recovered from a beach near the Ganjam-Puri border, according to police reports.
Supporters of Panda, along with senior BJD leaders in Ganjam, surrounded the SP’s office, labeling the arrest as a “political vendetta.” A significant police presence has been established throughout Berhampur to avert any potential disturbances.
Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M provided the media with updates regarding the case.