Pitabas Panda murder case: Police pick up Ganjam BJD president Bikram Panda

In a dramatic late-night development, former MLA and Ganjam district BJD president Bikram Kumar Panda has reportedly been picked up by police in connection with the sensational murder of BJP leader and lawyer Pitabas Panda.

Sources said a police team, led by Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M, reached Panda’s residence late at night and took him into custody for questioning. 

Following the news, a large number of Panda’s supporters gathered outside the Baidhyanathpur police station, demanding to know his whereabouts. However, the police have not yet disclosed where the former legislator has been detained.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that police have also detained former Berhampur Mayor Siba Shankar Das alias Pintu Das, who was taken into custody on Monday. 

In addition, a student leader, a sharpshooter, and several others involved in the alleged reconnaissance of the victim have been picked up.

Sources further revealed that a sharpshooter from Puri was apprehended while allegedly attempting to bury a firearm in the sand along the seashore.

It has been 17 days since the murder of advocate Pitabas Panda, which has sent shockwaves across southern Odisha. Police have reportedly questioned nearly 100 individuals and examined over 70 CCTV footage clips as part of an intensive investigation exploring multiple angles.

Also Read: BJP Leader Pitabas Panda Murder: Family Urges Exemplary Action Against ‘Real Mastermind’

While the police remain tight-lipped about the progress, these fresh detentions hint at major leads emerging in one of the most high-profile murder cases in recent times in Odisha.