Odisha Govt orders crime branch probe into BJD leader killing

Abhimanyu Sahu was found dead with throat slit at Titlagarh in Bolangir district on Sunday morning

With Bolangir district police unable to get any clue to the killing of BJD youth leader Abhimanyu Sahu, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today ordered a Crime Branch Inquiry into the murder at Titlagarh town yesterday.

Though police have launched a massive manhunt to nab the culprits soon after the crime yesterday morning, the assailants are still on the run.

Sahu, a popular BJD youth leader, was found dead with throat slit at Titlagarh in Bolangir district on Sunday morning while he was on morning walk. The exact cause of the crime is yet to be known.

The government's order for a crime branch probe is significant in view of the allegations of political rivalry as the motive behind the killing.

Sahu, who was a general secretary of Biju Yuva Janata Dal and a member of the State council, was considered to be a strong hopeful for Titilagarh Assembly constituency.

The ruling BJD leader was attacked by assailants who slit his throat suspectedly after hitting his head with a solid object.

While the BJD leaders described the killing as "unfortunate," the Opposition Congress and BJP alleged it as an indication of complete breakdown of law and order situation in Bolangir district.