We’re shocked! Family of murdered Pitabas Panda stunned by involvement of close acquaintances

In a deeply emotional response to the breakthrough in the murder case of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda from Ganjam district, his family expressed their shock on Wednesday over the involvement of four persons they considered close.

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

Speaking to the media, Pitabas’s younger brother said, “We are shocked. The four people now named as prime accused — Bikram Panda, Pintu Das, Madan Dalei, and Malay Bisoyi — were all very close to my brother.”

The family never imagined that such a betrayal could happen, especially from those whom Pitabas had introduced and trusted personally.

“It was Pitabas Panda who helped them connect and build relationships. My brother was instrumental in making them popular figures. If people you trust conspire behind your back and kill you, then who will you trust anymore?” the victim’s younger brother added with visible anguish.

Even more disturbing was the fact that after the murder, these same individuals had come to offer condolences, pretending to grieve with the family, the bereaved kin stated.

“We never knew they were behind the murder. Such betrayal demands the harshest, most exemplary punishment,” the young man stated, demanding justice not just for the family, but to set an example in society.

Earlier in the day, Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M revealed the challenges faced during the probe and the intense manhunt behind the high-profile arrests.

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.