Why Did Odisha CM Majhi Condemn Murder of BJP Leader?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Odisha CM Majhi condemns the murder
- Calls for swift police action
- Concerns over law and order in the state
- Political leaders demand accountability
- Tragic incident highlights the need for effective governance
Bhubaneswar, Oct 7 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, expressed profound grief on Tuesday regarding the tragic murder of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda in Berhampur.
He vehemently condemned this atrocious act, instructing the police force to swiftly locate and capture the offenders, ensuring they face appropriate consequences.
CM Majhi emphasized that Odisha is recognized as a peaceful state, and such barbaric and inhumane occurrences will not be accepted under any circumstances.
He also extended his heartfelt sympathies to the grieving family of the late BJP leader.
Lata Usendi, BJP co-incharge for Odisha, has also roundly denounced the violent murder of the senior advocate and BJP leader in Balrampur.
She stated, "The murder of a senior advocate and BJP leader is disturbingly alarming. Such events not only signal the decline of law and order but also poison the social environment. The government must take stringent and immediate action against those culpable for this heinous crime. Our CM has already made it clear on this matter."
In response, the opposition party, Biju Janata Dal, also condemned the murder of the prominent lawyer and BJP leader.
Speaking with IANS, senior BJD leader Bhrugu Baxipatra referred to Panda's murder as a serious and sensitive occurrence.
He criticized the state administration, claiming that incidents of violence against women and murders have been occurring daily across the state, highlighting the deteriorating law and order in Odisha.
"We want to emphasize that the law-and-order situation has completely collapsed in Odisha since the Bharatiya Janata Party took power. In the past 16 months, 128 murders have been reported in the Ganjam district alone, with three occurring in just the last 24 hours. The same police force that maintained law and order under Naveen Patnaik now seems unable to manage even a single murder case or conduct a thorough investigation," Baxipatra said.
"The BJD has been urging the state government for over a year to restore law and order in the state," the BJD leader added.
Panda was shot by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle near his home at Baikunthanagar, located under the Baidyanathpur police jurisdiction in Berhampur city of Odisha's Ganjam district late on Monday evening.
Two motorcycle-borne assailants waited for the victim to approach and fired two shots from close range before fleeing the scene around 10 p.m. last night.
The senior lawyer suffered severe gunshot wounds to his chest. Local residents rushed him to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, where doctors pronounced him dead.