A Festival Night Turned Tragic
Berhampur, Odisha — The city was rocked on October 6, 2025, when senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda was shot dead near his Baikuntha Nagar residence during the Kumar Purnima festival. According to SP Saravana Vivek M., Panda was returning home around 10 p.m. when two motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at point-blank range. Despite immediate medical attention at MKCG Medical College Hospital, Panda succumbed to his injuries, sending shockwaves through the legal and political community.
Initially speculated as politically motivated, subsequent investigations revealed a well-financed Rs 50 lakh conspiracy meticulously planned over several weeks.
The Web of Conspiracy
Following the killing, six specialized police teams were deployed to unravel the plot. SP Vivek disclosed that former MLA and Ganjam BJD district president Bikram Panda and ex-Mayor Siba Shankar Das alias Pintu Das orchestrated the murder. Their motive was a mix of political rivalry, personal enmity, and past legal disputes, as Panda had represented their adversaries in prior cases.
The plot began in early September, with corporator Malay Bisoi and student leader Madan Dalei assigned to execute it. They coordinated with Uma Shankar Bisoi and Joginder Raut, who arranged Bihar-based contract killers through intermediaries. Between September 10–14, the shooters — Sisupal Kumar Paswan, Kundan Kumar, and Simanchal Nayak — studied Panda’s routine while lodging in Alkapuri, posing as patients seeking medical treatment. However, logistical complications derailed this first assassination attempt.
Second Attempt and Execution
Undeterred, the conspirators assembled a local execution team: shooters Kurupati Bhuyan and Chintu Pradhan. An advance of Rs 10 lakh from the total Rs 50 lakh payment was transferred. On the night of October 6, the shooters rented a room near Panda’s home. As Panda returned late, Chintu drove the motorcycle while Bhuyan fired multiple shots, killing him instantly. Police later recovered the country-made pistol from a coastal area near Ganjam–Puri.
Motive and Arrests
Investigators concluded the murder stemmed from political vengeance, financial disputes, and long-standing personal animosity. Pintu Das had held a grudge from a prior murder case where Panda had defended the accused. Bikram Panda and other political actors viewed Panda’s rising influence as a threat to their positions.
So far, 12 suspects have been apprehended, including Bikram Panda, Pintu Das, Malay Bisoi, Madan Dalei, two hired shooters, and an informant. Key conspirators, Uma Bisoi and Kurupati Bhuyan, remain at large. Authorities seized three firearms and mobile phones containing incriminating digital evidence, including transaction records linked to the contract killing.
SP Statement and Ongoing Probe
SP Saravana Vivek described the murder as a “meticulously planned act of political vengeance”, highlighting the dangerous nexus between criminal elements and political figures. “Our teams are determined to bring every person involved to justice,” he stated. Investigations continue to locate absconding accused and track additional financial links related to the conspiracy.
A Stark Reminder
The Pitabas Panda murder has sent shockwaves across Odisha’s political and legal circles, exposing the perilous intersection of politics, crime, and corruption. It underscores the urgent need for vigilance in political spheres where personal vendettas and power struggles can escalate into deadly violence.
While arrests have brought temporary relief, authorities caution that uncovering the full network of conspirators is crucial to ensure justice and restore public faith in law enforcement. The case remains a sobering testament to the lengths some will go to preserve influence, serving as a grim warning about the consequences when politics and crime intertwine.
(With agency inputs)
