Golak Mohapatra grilled in BJD councillor killing case

BJP leader Golak Mohapatra was today questioned by police for over two hours in connection with the escape of two key accused persons in the murder of a BJD councillor in Chhatrapur civic body in Odisha's Ganjam district last September.
Mohapatra, state BJP spokesperson, was questioned in two phases after he appeared before the police at Chhatrapur, a senior police official said.
The interrogation of the BJP leader took place amidst demonstrations by BJD supporters demanding arrest of Mohapatra alleging that he had helped the two main accused in the murder of Laxmidutta Pradhan, BJD councilor in Chhatrapur Notified Area Council (NAC), to escape.

A team of senior police officers, including ASP (Ganjam) Ajaya Pratap Swain, interrogated him. If necessary, Mohapatra may be called again for questioning, Swain said.
Mohapatra was questioned regarding the escape of Krushna Nayak and Duryodhan Reddy, two local BJP leaders who were arrested last week for their alleged involvement in the murder of Laxmidutta Pradhan on September 16.
Mohapatra, accompanied by senior BJP leaders, went to the police station in a rally. "I appeared before the police as per their summons. I have also answered all the questions asked by them, said Mohapatra after questioning.

Stating that he was innocent, Mohapatra said he was cooperating with the police in their investigation.

While it was alleged that Krushna Nayak had claimed that Mohapatra had helped them in escaping to evade arrest, it was denied by the BJP leader.
Meanwhile, BJD workers and supporters staged a demonstration in front of the office of the SP (Ganjam) demanding immediate arrest of Mohapatra.
MLA (Chhatrapur) Priyanshu Pradhan said Mohapatra should be arrested as his role in arranging shelter to the conspirators of the murder had come to light from the statement of one of the accused persons.
The Chhatrapur councilor was hacked to death by a group of assailants in front of his house in Suryanagar in Chhatrapur. Police had arrested 15 persons in the case, but Krushna Nayak and Duryodhan had managed to escape to Cuttack and then to Kolkata before they moved to Uttarakhand.