Keonjhar: Miscreants allegedly bludgeoned a lady BJP leader to death at Binida village, under Pandapada police limits and Ghatagaon block in this district, late Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Satyabhama Singh (45), a former samiti member of Binida panchayat and BJP vicepresident of Pandapada zone. She is also a pala artiste and had carved a niche for herself in the district with her performances. It is suspected that Satyabhama might have been murdered either over personal enmity or political rivalry. Sources informed Monday that she was not on good terms with another fellow pala artiste. The killing has spread shockwaves in the area.
On being informed, police recovered her body from a ground about 100 metres away from her residence, Monday. Keonjhar Sadar SDPO Mahendranath Murmu, Pandapada police sub-inspector Ramachandra Mohanta reached the spot and launched an investigation into the murder. A forensic team was also pressed into service. The SDPO said that very soon the accused will be identified and arrested. The actual reason behind the murder can be ascertained only after the post-mortem report is available, the SDPO added. As per the police report, Satyabhama had gone to a nearby Radha Krishna temple to participate in a ‘Sankirtan’ performance, Sunday evening leaving behind her elderly mother at home. The programme got over around 9.30pm and all the performers left for their respective residences. Satyabhama’s mother initially waited for her, but then went off to sleep thinking that she might have stayed back at the temple. Satyabhama’s death came to the fore only after some villagers spotted her body lying in a pool of blood near her residence.
Later her family members informed the police regarding the murder. It is suspected that more than one people might be involved in the crime. A delegation of BJP members led by Maheswar Sahu, president of ‘Nari Surakshya Samiti’ visited the village Monday to meet the bereaved family. Sahu demanded a proper probe into the case and arrest of the persons involved in the gruesome murder.