Pitabas Panda murder: Berhampur SP reveals intense 17-day manhunt behind high-profile arrests

Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M on Wednesday revealed the challenges faced during the probe and the intense manhunt behind the high-profile arrests in Ganjam district.

Also Read: Failed attempt, new killers, Rs 50 lakh deal: Berhampur SP reveals who and how Pitabas Panda was murdered

In a significant breakthrough in the murder case of BJP leader and senior advocate Pitabas Panda, Ganjam district police have arrested former MLA and BJD district president Bikram Kumar Panda after a 17-day intensive investigation.

Berhampur SP detailed the complexities and hurdles the police team faced while zeroing in on the accused persons. The investigation saw a massive mobilisation of resources, with police interrogating nearly 100 individuals and scanning over 70 CCTV footages across multiple locations in the city.

The high-profile nature of the case put enormous pressure on the probe team, which had to navigate political sensitivities, public outrage, and technical challenges.

Multiple leads were pursued simultaneously, involving cyber tracking, witness statements, forensic analysis, and field-level intelligence.

According to police sources, the arrests were made possible due to sustained surveillance and coordination among different police units.

The police have not ruled out more arrests as further investigation continues.

Detailed probe revealed that a team from Bihar visited Berhampur between September 10 and 14 to survey Pitabas Panda’s movements and plan his elimination. The team was reportedly brought to Berhampur by anti-socials Uma Bisoi and Jogi alias Jogendra Rout, with Simanchal Nayak engaged as a liaison.

“One person can never investigate such a major case. After all, it is a team effort that worked. We had formed six teams led by six DSPs, which comprised two Inspectors in each team. The teams were supported by Sub-Inspectors, ASIs, and constables. Tough efforts indeed paid off, leading to the arrests,” the SP expressed.

“However perfectly the crime may have been executed, we were certain that they might have left some clues. The probe was perfectly carried out with dedication, for which I am proud of the Berhampur police team,” the SP stated.

“Kurupati Bhuyan and Uma Bisoyi are still at large. We were after them and had intensified the manhunt. They have been frequently changing their locations, and nabbing them has become a bit difficult. However, our efforts will continue to nab them,” the SP added.

Worth mentioning, Pitabas Panda was shot dead at around 10.00 PM on October 6 (Kumar Purnima night) while returning home, sending shockwaves across the State’s political and legal circles.