Missing freedom fighter’s grandson traced

Bhubaneswar: The suspense surrounding the unexplained disappearance of Babula Panda, the grandson of freedom fighter Laxmi Indira Panda, after the PM’s felicitation ceremony, finally ended as he was traced at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar today.

Later on Police commissioner YB Khurania informed that police got a call yesterday afternoon and Babula was rescued in critical condition from Mancheswar area in Bhubaneswar. He was then admitted to the hospital, said Khurania adding that probe will be conducted to establish under what circumstances he went missing.

Till last reports came in Babula had been shifted to Cuttack SCB hospital, after his health condition deteriorated.

Babula, who is a resident of Jeypore, came to Bhubaneswar to be felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, he went missing on his way back on April 16. After the matter came to light, CM had ordered the DG to trace him.

His mysterious disappearance also stoked a political row with the BJP alleging involvement of minister Pranab Prakash Das and BJD spokesperson Rabi Narayan Nanda.