RTI Activist Shot Dead By Two Bike-Borne Miscreants In Odisha

Kandhamal: After a chilling winter night, residents in Baliguda area of Kandhamal district woke up to the news of gruesome murder of a Right to Information (RTI) activist who was reportedly shot dead in front of his house by two motorcycle-borne miscreants on Tuesday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Abhimanyu Panda.

According to sources, Panda was standing in front of his house at Patra Sahi at around 7.30 am today when two miscreants came on a bike and opened fire at him. Panda, who sustained bullet injuries on his chest, was immediately rushed to Baliguda hospital. However, he died while undergoing treatment, sources said.

According to family sources, Panda had earlier received several death threats as he used to seek information from various departments through RTI queries.

Panic gripped among the local residents in the area following the brutal murder of the RTI activist.

Following the incident, Baliguda police reached the spot and recovered empty bullet shell.

Further investigation is on to ascertain the exact motive behind RTI activist's murder. Efforts are also underway to nab the accused involved in the crime, police said.

Meanwhile, locals of Baliguda staged a protest against the murder of the RTI activist. “We demand immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the murder and stringent punishment against them,” said Ramchandra Singh Thakur, a local resident.

Baliguda SDPO Manas Ranjan Barik said, "An FIR has been registered on the basis of report lodged by the family members who have alleged that someone murdered him."