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Khurda: As electoral battle keeps Odisha on fire ahead of the remaining three rounds of elections, incidents of pre-poll violence have begun to hit the State politics. Just hours after pre-poll violence erupted in Bolangir, a well-known leader of Khurda BJP unit was shot dead by an unidentified miscreant in the town late Sunday night.
Following the incident, the BJP has called for Khurda bandh from 8 am to 2 pm today.
According to information, a bike-borne miscrent fired three rounds of bullets and killed BJP's Khurda Mandal president Manguli Jena near party's Nabina Bag office in the town.
Khurda BJP MLA candidate Kalu Khandayatra who witnessed the incident said, "As Jena was about to leave us after a meeting, we were discussing with him on the road while suddenly, a person riding a scooty came and shot two rounds of bullets at him and also opened fire another round of bullet at me. Even though I escaped unhurt, Jena was killed."
Asked about the reason behind the incident, Khandayatra said that he could not identify the accused who had covered his head with a helmet but blamed that it could be BJD's goodaraj to eliminate him.
After being informed, police launched a probe into the incident. "We are investigating whether it is a poll-related violence or fallout of past rivalry. A special team has been formed to nab the accused involved in the murder and strong action will be taken," said a police official.
Meanwhile, strongly condemning the incident, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has apprised the State Police DG about the matter.
"There is no place for violence in democracy as it is battle of ballots not bullets. I urge party leaders and workers to have faith in democracy and keep peace at this time," Pradhan tweeted.
ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ରରେ ହିଂସାର କୌଣସି ସ୍ଥାନ ନାହିଁ। ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ର ବାଲଟର ଲଢେଇ ବୁଲେଟରେ ନୁହେଁ। ଆମ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକର୍ତ୍ତାଙ୍କ ହତ୍ୟା ସମୟରେ, ଆମର ସମସ୍ତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକର୍ତ୍ତା ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ର ଉପରେ ଅତୁଟ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ରଖି ଶାନ୍ତି ବଜାୟ ରଖିବା ପାଇଁ ବିନମ୍ର ନିବେଦନ।ଏହି ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପୋଲିସ ମହାନିର୍ଦେଶକଙ୍କ ସହ କଥା ହୋଇ ଘଟଣା ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଅବଗତ କରାଇଲି।
— Chowkidar Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 14, 2019
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleges police inaction in Khurda #BJPLeaderMurder case; condemning the incident, Pradhan says "We have to respond to his death not by bullet, but by ballot. A violent incident like this in a democracy is condemnable." pic.twitter.com/RE2DrwUiww
— OTV (@otvnews) April 15, 2019
BJP's Aparajita Sarangi also condemned the incident and said, "Anarchy-like situation is currently prevailing in Odisha, especially in Bhubaneswar Parliamentary constituency. People will not forgive the particular political party involved in this crime and give a befitting reply."
#BJPLeaderMurder: Anarchy-like situation is currently prevailing in #Odisha, especially in #Bhubaneswar Parliamentary constituency; people will not forgive the particular political party involved in this crime & give a befitting reply, says BJP's Aparajita Sarangi pic.twitter.com/05wS2lf3eh
— OTV (@otvnews) April 15, 2019
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik too condemned the incident and requested the Election Commission to direct the police to take stringent action against those involved in the murder of the BJP leader.
"I strongly condemn this heinous murder... I request the Election Commission to direct police to take stringent action against those involved," says #Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on #BJPLeaderMurder in #Khurda pic.twitter.com/RD3XsDEDZy
— OTV (@otvnews) April 15, 2019
BJD MLA candidate, Khurda said, "BJP's allegations against the ruling party are completely baseless and false, BJD never wanted to associate politics."
On the other hand, DGP Incharge BK Sharma informed IG (Central Range) Soumendra Priyadarshi will monitor the probe. "A team of Crime Branch including an Inspector has already initiated investigation into the incident. Efforts are on to identify and nab the accused," said Sharma.
Ensuring hassle-free elections, IG (Central Range) Soumendra Priyadarshi says, "Solving the #BJPLeaderMurder case will be tough challenge for police. 3 more teams have been formed & a scientific team has also been called. Our prime responsibility now is to nab all the accused." pic.twitter.com/khpicIJ0FN
— OTV (@otvnews) April 15, 2019