Bhubaneswar: A local court on Wednesday granted the Berhampur Police a 2-day remand of six accused in connection with the murder of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabash Panda, including notorious sharpshooter Kurupati Bhuyan.
The development follows the recent arrest of Bhuyan, who was the last of the accused to have been absconding. The police have so far arrested 16 people in connection with the case, including former BJD MLA Bikram Panda, who was earlier taken into custody for allegedly financing and facilitating the crime.
Police described the arrest of Kurupati Bhuyan, a known contract killer, as a major breakthrough in the investigation. Bhuyan is believed to have been the main hitman in a well-planned conspiracy that led to Panda’s killing.
The case dates back to the night of October 6, when 62-year-old Pitabash Panda was shot at point-blank range outside his residence in Berhampur. Panda, who was also associated with the BJP, succumbed to his injuries after Bhuyan fired the fatal shots.
Police said the 2-day remand will allow them to interrogate the accused further and gather more evidence to identify the masterminds behind the plot. Investigators have indicated that the conspiracy had been in planning for several months and involved multiple people in different roles.
