Sambalpur: Senior BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra and his associate Shiba Kumar Diwan were arrested on Thursday by Padampur SDPO Laxminarayan Panda in Banabira firing case in which brother of Minister of Sushant Singh was attacked ahead of the Bijepur bypoll on February 22.
Earlier in the day, a team led by the Padampur SDPO had raided the house of Mishra and took him into custody for questioning at the Sohela police station.
Prior to his arrest, Mishra said, "Police have called me for further investigation and I will cooperate in the probe," adding that the Banabira incident is being unnecessarily politicised.
On the other hand, the Padampur SDPO stated, "In the FIR Mishra's name was mentioned. We have registered a case against him under Section 302, 147, 148, 302 and Arms act."
On February 22, Minister of Sushant Singh's brother Subrat Singh was attacked near Banabira under Sohela police limits ahead of Bijepur bypoll.
In the incident, three persons including the minister's brother were injured whereas driver of Subrat Singh, Dileswar Sahu had died while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital on February 23.
“Jayanarayan Mishra is not involved in the Banabira violence and the way police picked him from his house is not acceptable and healthy for democracy,” said Odisha BJP chief Basant Panda.
Labour Minister Sushant Singh on the other hand denied that Mishra’s arrest was not politically motivated.
“Jayanarayan Mishra had instigated the attack and his name was also mentioned in the FIR filed by the victims,” said Singh.