Overview
- Berhampur saw a BJD protest backing former MLA Bikram Panda, with the party alleging vendetta and claiming police acted under political pressure.
- Investigators say 12 people have been arrested, including Bikram Panda, and allege he and ex-mayor Siba Shankar Das hired two youths to kill BJP leader and lawyer Pitabash Panda.
- Police attribute the suspected plot to political rivalry, financial loss and an old case involving Das, with further detentions reported on Thursday.
- Sudarshan Jena surrendered at BNPur police station, Sunil Hota was arrested for sheltering suspects, and two accused — Kurupatti Bhuyan and Uma Bisoyi — remain at large.
- Pitabas Panda’s family described a 37-year friendship with some accused as a betrayal, while the BJP urged that the legal process proceed and criticized BJD claims targeting a minister.