Bhubaneswar, October 23: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exerting political pressure in the arrest of former Berhampur MLA Bikram Panda, who is linked to the ongoing investigation into the murder of BJP leader Pitabash Panda. BJD leader Lenin Mohanty alleged that the arrest, which took place on October 22, was politically motivated, claiming that it was orchestrated under the influence of the ruling BJP government.
Mohanty suggested that there was a lack of concrete evidence to support the arrest of Panda, describing it as a strategy to discredit the BJD. "This is a clear case of political interference, aimed at tarnishing the image of the BJD," Mohanty said during an interview with ANI. He further alleged that the police, reportedly under the ruling party’s influence, were being misused to target opposition forces.
The murder of Pitabash Panda, a respected senior lawyer and member of the State Bar Council, occurred on October 6, when he was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside his residence in Berhampur. Following the incident, three special investigation teams were formed to probe the crime. While the police have not yet identified a definitive motive, the arrest of Bikram Panda has raised suspicions about the role of political rivalry in the murder.
In response to the arrest, Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das strongly criticized the state's handling of the situation. He accused the Majhi-led government of creating an environment akin to "jungle raj." Expressing his shock over the murder, Das took to social media to highlight the failure of the government in ensuring the safety of its own leaders. "The tragic murder of Senior Lawyer and Bar Council Member Pitabash Panda is deeply alarming. The BJP’s inability to protect its own leaders reflects the collapse of law and order under CM Mohan Majhi's administration," Das stated.
As the investigation continues, the controversy surrounding Panda’s arrest is amplifying political tensions in Odisha. Both the ruling and opposition parties continue to accuse one another of exploiting the murder for political gain, signaling that this tragic event will remain a hot topic in the state’s political discourse. ( With ANI input)
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