Pitabas Panda murder case: Police arrest another accused for sheltering sharpshooter

In a fresh development in the senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda murder case, police have arrested another accused for allegedly providing shelter to the sharpshooter involved in the killing.

According to reports, the Baidhyanathpur police arrested Sunyachandra Das from the Khodasingh area on charges of harbouring the shooter and another accused person at his residence. With this arrest, the total number of people held in connection with the case has now risen to 14.

However, the two prime suspects, including the sharpshooter Kurupati Bhuyan and Uma Bishoyi, who allegedly hired the contract killers, remain at large.

Investigators revealed that Kurupati Bhuyan was the one who shot advocate Pitabas Panda at point-blank range, while Uma Bishoyi played a key role in recruiting the shooter for the crime.

Police have intensified search operations to trace and apprehend the two fugitives, while further investigation into the conspiracy and network behind the murder continues.

Notably, Pitabas Panda was shot dead on the night of October 6 while returning from his office. He was killed near his residence under Baikuntha Nagar, Baidyanathpur police station limits. 

Also Read: Odisha govt job scam: Man arrested for duping woman of Rs 9L and jewellery

On October 22, the police arrested former Berhampur MLA and Ganjam district president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bikram Kumar Panda, among 12 individuals in connection with the case.  Authorities named him and a former mayor, Siba Shankar Das alias Pintu Das, as the main conspirators.