In yet another pre poll violence former sarpanch and senior BJP leader from Khordha Manguli Jena was shot dead by unidentified miscreants late last night.
In protest the BJP today called for a Khordha bandh from 0800 hours to 1400 hours and staged demonstration before the Khordha police station demanding immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the gruesome murder.
Sources said two miscreants who came in a scooty fired three rounds of bullets at BJP’s Khurda Mandal president Manguli Jena near party’s Nabina Bag office in Khordha town killing him on the spot.
Khurda BJP MLA candidate Kalu Khandayatra who was present at the time of the incident said after we completed a meeting over poll preparedness and Manguli Jena was about the leave the party office when the miscreants suddenly arrived at the spot and fired three rounds killing Manguli on the spot and fled from the scene.
Mr Khandayat said he was lucky that he escaped unhurt in the incident. The police on being informed about the incident rushed to the site, seized the body and sent it for post mortem.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has strongly condemned the attack and asked the Election Commission to inquire into the incident and take strong action against the culprits.
On the other hand, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan while strongly condemning the incident alleged that the ruling BJD, fearing defeat in the election has become blood thirsty.
He said the incident happened just a stone throwing distance from the SP office and regretted that although the murder took place last night, the SP had not visited the spot till noon to investigate the matter.
Taking to the twitter account, Mr Pradhan said “There is no place for violence in democracy since it is battle of ballots and not bullets. I urge party leaders and workers to have faith in democracy and keep peace at this time,” he said.
Police sources said a special team has been constituted to nab the culprits and the all the CCTVs installed in the area are being examined to find out some clues about the criminals.
Meanwhile, BJP Bhubaneswar Lok Sabka candidate Aparjita Sharangi has condemned the incident and demanded adequate security protection to all the BJP candidates contesting the elections in the region. (UNI)
