Holding the BJD "responsible" for the murder of a party activist in the run-up to the panchayat polls at Tarabha village, the BJP today observed a shutdown in Dhenkanal demanding the arrest of local BJD MLA and minister Prafulla Mallick, alleging he was the chief conspirator.
"As the minister is the local MLA, he wants BJD candidates to win all seats in the ensuing panchayat polls. We understand that Mallick is the chief conspirator in the murder of Salman Rout, who was an active member of our party. He should be brought under the purview of police investigation and be arrested immediately," BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma told reporters here.
The BJP also demanded that Mallick's call records be investigated.
Rejecting the allegations, Mallick said he was ready for probe and attacked the BJP for politicising the issue to to gain political mileage.
"I am ready for any sort of investigation. The BJP is politicising the issue and wants to gain political mileage in the matter. We are not harbouring anybody and let police investigate. Since police have already arrested the accused, he would be punished as per law," Mallick told reporters.
Rout, son of a former Sarpanch, had been shot at following arguments with a group over poll related issues. He succumbed to injuries in Dhenkanal District Headquarters Hospital on Saturday evening.
Byomokesh Biswal, a jawan of Odisha State Armed Police (OSAP), who was identified as the prime accused in the murder case was arrested yesterday.
Meanwhile, vehicular movement came to a standstill in Dhenkanal town and business establishments downed their shutters in response to the BJP's bandh call.
All private and government schools also remained closed for the day while police arrested some BJP activists including former MP Rudra Narayan Pany while they were protesting on the streets.
Additional force has been deployed in several parts of the town. The district administration, sensing trouble, has also pressed five platoons of force into service at Tarabha village where prohibitory orders were in force.
"The police are investigating the incident and one person has been arrested. Required number of force has been deployed. The situation is gradually improving," Dhenkanal SP Basant Kumar Panigrahi said.
Senior Congress leader and former OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik also alleged that the ruling BJD was responsible for increase in violence in the state ahead of the panchayat elections.
The panchayat polls in Odisha will be held in five phases on February 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21.
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