Bhubaneswar, Oct 8: Odisha State Bar Council demanded an exgratia of Rs 1 crore to next of kin of Advocate Pitabasa Panda, assassinated by unidentified miscreants in Berhampur on October 6.
Calling for prompt & stern action with exemplary prosecution against the culprits, the Council urged the government to constitute a Judicial Inquiry Commission, to probe the underlying circumstances leading to the murder including motives related to professional or extraneous factors.
In an official letter adressed to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Chairman of Odisha State Bar Council Sitanshu Mohan Dwibedy condemned the heinous murder of Panda who was a prominent lawyer and a distinguished member of the State Bar Council, terming it barbaric.
Apart from it, Dwibedy urged the Odisha government, DGP and the concerned authorities to ensure protection of legal fraternities by promulgating the Advocate Protection Act in the state soon.
