Sharpshooter, Aide Held in BJP Leader Pitabas Panda’s Murder Case
Berhampur Police arrest two suspects from Bihar after multi-state manhunt in high-profile killing of advocate-politician
In a major breakthrough in the murder of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda, the Berhampur Police on Wednesday arrested two suspects from Bihar — including a sharpshooter believed to have carried out the killing.
The arrests, made after an extensive multi-state operation, mark the first major progress in the high-profile case that sent shockwaves through southern Odisha earlier this month.
According to police sources, a special team from Berhampur had been tracking leads across Bihar, Delhi and Kolkata over the past week. After days of coordinated surveillance, officers raided a hideout in Bihar and arrested the duo.
Preliminary findings indicate that one of the accused fired the fatal shot that killed Panda, while the other conducted a recce of the victim’s home and movements days before the attack. Both were brought to Berhampur late Wednesday for interrogation.
A senior police officer said the arrests followed “sustained intelligence inputs” collected by Odisha Police teams deployed outside the state. “The network behind the killing appears to extend beyond Odisha’s borders,” the officer said.
The breakthrough comes ten days after Panda was gunned down near his Kamapalli residence in Berhampur. The assailants fled immediately after the attack, leaving investigators struggling for initial leads.
Meanwhile, police are also questioning a close associate of Panda and a local businessman who were in frequent contact with him. This is the fifth round of questioning for both, and investigators believe they may hold key information about the motive and possible financiers behind the hit.
On the night of October 6, Panda was shot at point-blank range by motorcycle-borne assailants. The 60-year-old lawyer was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The killing sparked widespread outrage across Odisha’s legal and political circles. Known for his decades-long legal career and active role in the BJP’s organisational affairs in south Odisha, Panda was widely respected in both courtrooms and political corridors.
Family members said he had no known personal enmity, adding to the mystery surrounding the motive.
With the latest arrests, police hope to unravel the larger conspiracy behind the killing of the veteran lawyer-politician.