Cong leader held in the murder of shipping firm official

A local Congress and trade union leader Arindam Sarkhel alias Bapi was arrested in connection with the murder of a shipping company official here, police said today.
He was arrested after interrogation by police last night in connection with the gunning down of Mahendra Swain on October 26, Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police J.N Pankaj said.
Bapi had reached Raghunathpur Police Station along with his supporters last evening after a lookout circular was issued against him following the arrest of five persons on Thursday, including three from Jharkhand, in the case, the police officer said.
He was detained and interrogated for several hours before being formally arrested, Pankaj said, adding Bapi was produced before a magistrate at Kujang today and sent to jail after his bail plea was rejected.

Protesting the arrest, members of several workers' unions in the area staged demonstrations and blocked Cuttack-Paradip road. Some unions also gave a call to cease work at different industrial units in the area.