25 years after two friends joined Youth Congress in Odisha, one was murdered. BJP leader Pitabash Panda was shot dead in Berhampur. Police arrested 12 people, including his former friend Bikram Panda,. They are charged with conspiracy to murder. The two Pandas were close allies until they joined different parties. Bikram joined BJD in 2018, while Pitabash joined BJP in 2023. Police say personal, financial, and political reasons led to the murder plot. BJD claims Bikram's arrest is a conspiracy to harm the party's image. (Updated 23 Oct 2025, 11:25 IST; source: link)
Key Points
- 25 years after two friends joined Youth Congress in Odisha, one was murdered on 6 Oct
- BJP leader Pitabash Panda was shot dead in Berhampur
- Police arrested 12 people, including his former friend Bikram Panda, on 11 Oct