Tarabha killing: Odisha BJP observes Dhenkanal bandh

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 6:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) observed a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district today protesting the killing of party activist Salman Rout at Tarabha village here.

While vehicular movement came to a grinding halt in Dhenkanal town, schools, shops and business establishments remained closed due to the bandh, reports said, adding that BJP workers were seen picketing at various places.

Police have arrested BJP leaders Rudra Narayan Pani, Krushna Chandra Patra and several party activists as a precautionary measure.

Police forces have been deployed in the town to avoid any untoward incident.

On the other hand, Section 144 clamped in Tarabha village has been kept in force. Besides, five platoons of police force have been deployed in the village.

Worth mentioning, Salman Rout was shot at by unidentified miscreants on Saturday night following which he was admitted to Dhenkanal District Headquarters Hospital in a profusely bleeding condition. However, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Police have arrested Byomkesh Biswal, an OSAP jawan posted in Keonjhar, for his alleged complicity in the case.

Prohibitory orders were enforced in Tarabha yesterday after mob set ablaze the house of Biswal, tractor, motorcycles and heaps of paddy crops stashed in the backyard.

Notably, two groups had clashed in the village over putting up of posters for the upcoming three-tier panchayat polls in the state. It was alleged that Byomkesh pumped bullets into Salman’s chest from point-blank range.