Khurda: In pre-poll violence, a BJP leader was shot dead by unidentified bike-borne miscreants near the party office at Navin Bag in the town late Sunday night.
The deceased has been identified as Manguli Jena (52), BJP’s president for Zone No-9 under Khurda constituency.
Following the incident, the BJP has called for Khurda bandh from 8 am to 2 pm.
Sources said, two bike-borne miscreants arrived at the party office and opened fire at Manguli and fled the spot.
Manguli was immediately rushed to Khurda district headquarters hospital but the doctors declared him brought dead.
His followers thronged the DHH after the news spread. Tension continued to prevail till the arrival of last report. SDPO Sushil Mitra and Khurda town police are on the spot and holding discussion with the fumed party workers and Manguli’s supporters.
There was a group clash between BJP and BJD at the time of 2012 panchayat elections. Manguli was in BJD at that time. After 2017 panchayat elections, he had joined BJP. Because of some political issues, he had developed enmity with a section of a political party.
Sunday evening, he had come to BJP’s MLA candidate Kalu Khandayatray for a discussion relating to party works. According to Kalu, they were discussing something standing near the party office. It was about 11 pm. Two bike-borne miscreants arrived and one of them opened two rounds of fire and fled the spot.
PNN