Berhampur: Police have arrested husband of local panchayat samiti member for allegedly provoking locals to set fire to Phiringia police station in Odisha’s Kandhamal district on August 5 while accusing police personnel of engaging in ganja smuggling.
One of the main accused, Biswaranjan Kanhar alias Bapi, was apprehended on Saturday evening while trying to cross the district border, Kandhamal SP Subhendu Patra said, adding that he is the husband of local panchayat samiti member Mousumi Pradhan.
Police sources said that Kanhar played a major role in organising the road blockade and instigating the crowd. He was also involved in chasing police personnel and attacking Phulbani SDPO Suprasanna Mallick, which was revealed from video footage.
With this, 24 people have so far been arrested in connection with the arson in which a case has been registered against 84 people.
