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Bhubaneswar, October 22 (IANS) The arrest of opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Bikram Kumar Panda and his associates in the murder case of BJP leader Pitabasa Panda has triggered a heated argument between the two parties.
Senior BJD leaders, at a press conference here on Wednesday, alleged that the arrest of former MLA and current Ganjam district BJD president Bikram Panda in the murder case was purely motivated by political motives.
BJD leaders alleged the involvement of Gopalpur MLA and the state Mining Minister in the murder case and said that the former MLA has been deliberately implicated in this case to save the state government and the minister.
He alleged that Berhampur Police failed to produce any concrete evidence in support of Bikram Panda’s involvement in the case.
Speaking at a press conference, senior BJD leader Pramila Mallik on Wednesday said that during the last 16 months of BJP rule, law and order in the state has deteriorated significantly, with Ganjam district topping the list in terms of crime incidents.
Mallick claimed that 152 rape cases and 128 murder cases were registered in Ganjam alone during the above period. He further alleged that illegal sand mining has been at its peak in Ganjam in recent times, leading to several violent incidents.
Mallik claimed that allegations have also been made several times regarding the involvement of Gopalpur MLA and State Steel and Mines Minister Vibhuti Bhushan Jena in illegal sand business.
Mallick said that after the murder of BJP leader Pitabash Panda, initial discussions had pointed to illegal sand mining business as a possible motive, adding that minister Jena’s name had cropped up in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, state Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari termed the allegations made by BJD as extremely unfortunate.
He said that the Brahmapur Superintendent of Police has clearly explained the entire conspiracy behind the murder, and has also given detailed information about the efforts to provide shelter to the people involved in the murder of the BJP leader.
“If the BJD is still denying the involvement of its leaders in the case, I believe they are denying the truth. By attempting to protect its leaders, the BJD is also promoting criminal activities,” Pujari alleged.
Notably, the Berhampur police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested 12 people, including BJD leader Bikram Panda and his close associates, in connection with the murder of BJP leader Pitabash Panda, who was shot dead near his residence in Berhampur on October 6.
–IANS
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