Berhampur: In a major development in the high-profile murder of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda, Berhampur Police arrested two suspects, including a sharpshooter believed to be the killer, from Bihar, following a multi-state coordinated surveillance operation.
The arrests come nearly ten days after Panda was gunned down near his residence on the night of October 6 in full public glare.
According to sources, one of those arrested is suspected to have fired the fatal shot, while the other conducted a recce of the area before the attack. Both accused were brought to Berhampur for interrogation on Wednesday night.
The police investigation spanned Bihar, Delhi, and Kolkata, focusing on individuals suspected of orchestrating the alleged contract killing. Additionally, police are also rigorously interrogating two locals—a close associate of Panda and a businessman—for potential clues about the motive and masterminds.
The calculated nature of the attack suggested a professional hit, prompting widespread condemnation from Odisha’s legal and political communities.