Councillor’s murder: Two BJP leaders move Odisha HC for anticipatory bail

Bhubaneswar: BJP leaders and party spokespersons Bhrugu Baxipatra and Golak Mahapatra have moved the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the murder of BJD leader and Chhatrapur NAC Councillor Laxmidutta Pradhan.

The Chhatrapur police had on January 29 issued notices to the two asking Mahapatra and Baxipatra to depose before it on February 7 and February 9, respectively.

However, Mahapatra failed to appear before police yesterday. Citing health-related problems as the reason for not being able to depose before police, Mahapatra, through his lawyer, sought an additional time of one month for appearance.

As many as 19 persons have been arrested so far in the murder case. Notably, on September 16, 2017, Laxmidutta was engaged in a discussion with some youths in front of his house at Surya Nagar in Chhatrapur when a group of armed men attacked the BJD leader and brutally hacked him to death in broad daylight.

The murder had triggered a State-wide uproar. Sources said Laxmidutta’s murder was part of a wider conspiracy and result of previous enmity.