Third accused in BJD youth leader attack arrested

OST Bureau

Angul, Jan 6:

Police today arrested one more person in connection with the sensational attack on Yasobanta Parida, a BJD youth leader from Kamakshanagar, on Friday evening.

The accused, identified as Manas Ranjan Nath, was arrested from Angul area today, police said. With his arrest, the total number of arrests in the case stood at three. Manas had assisted Suresh Panda, the main assailant in the attack, police added.

However, Deepak Mohanta, the mastermind and husband of the Baruan sarpanch still remained at large.

It may be noted that Manoranjan Mohanty, SP, Dhenkanal had revealed in a press conference in Dhenkanal on Sunday that Mohanta had given a ‘supari’ of Rs 10 lakh for the murder of Parida, who he believed was responsible for sending him to jail in a murder case three years ago. While Rs 5 lakh had already been given to the contract killers by way of ‘advance’, the rest Rs 5 lakh was to be given after the murder.

The main assailant Suresh Panda of Athagarh was overpowered and handed over to the police immediately after he pumped three bullets into Parida on Friday evening, while his associate Lunia was nabbed on Sunday.