Odisha Crime Branch to probe BJP leader’s murder

Bhubaneswar: Odisha police today informed that the investigation into the murder of BJP’s Khordha Zone-9 Mandal President Manguli Jena has been handed over to the Crime Branch.

“Prioritising the case and keeping the workload of district police in mind, the matter has been handed over to the Crime Branch who can conduct the inquiry in a dedicated way,” said DGP in-charge B K Sharma today.

Sharma further added that the DSP Pramod Rath has been made the investigating officer in this case. A Crime Branch team has already reached Khordha and will be assisted by a cyber team. The probe supervision will be done by IG Arun Bothra.

Inspector General of Police (Central Range), Soumendra Priyadarshi, was earlier entrusted with the charge of monitoring the investigation into the case. The IGP will now assist the Crime Branch in further investigation.

Notably, Jena, was allegedly shot dead by unidentified miscreants in Khordha town, two days ago. He sustained critical bullet injuries and was admitted to the Khordha district headquarters hospital, where he was declared dead by doctors.