Odisha: BJD chief shot useless in full public view

By Express News Service
BERHAMPUR: Uneasy prevails in Beguniapada block of Ganjam district after a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief was shot useless in full public glare on Wednesday morning.The deceased, 53-year-old Debraj Sahu, was a former block chairman of Beguniapada. He and his supporters had been having morning tea at Sumandal Chowk when a automotive stopped close to them. Before anybody might realise, 4 miscreants alighted from the automobile, reached the tea stall and fired a barrage of bullets at Sahu. On listening to the gunshots, others on the stall together with the shopkeeper ducked for canopy in concern. 

After pumping a number of bullets into Sahu’s physique, the miscreants drove away from the spot. After they left, onlookers rushed in the direction of Sahu who had slumped to the bottom and was bleeding profusely. Before assist might attain, the BJD chief succumbed on the spot.

As the information unfold, Beguniapada and Kodala police rushed to the spot and began investigation. Though it’s believed that Sahu was killed over previous enmity, locals alleged that the homicide was as a consequence of political rivalry. While police are but to hint the killers, Sahu’s relations mentioned they didn’t have any enemy although there was a quarrel with some individuals three months again.

Ganjam SP Brijesh Roy and Additional SP Thakur Prasad Patra together with a scientific staff reached the spot. Police have seized a used case of bullets from the crime scene. Roy mentioned particular groups have been shaped to nab the culprits.

Later on the day, Kabisuryanagar MLA Latika Pradhan together with numerous BJD staff reached the spot and consoled Sahu’s relations. Condemning the incident, Pradhan mentioned, “We have full confidence in police and hope the culprits will be nabbed soon.”Sahu was the chairman of Beguniapada block until 2012. He was in lively politics for the reason that final twenty years.Meanwhile, police have detained a automotive suspecting its involvement within the homicide. 

Several BJD leaders in Bhanjanagar sub-division have been killed as a consequence of political rivalry within the final 5 years. While killers of some leaders have been nabbed, the accused in different instances are nonetheless absconding.Sahu’s homicide has left the locals nervous about the potential for escalation in political violence because the panchayat and concrete physique elections are forward.