Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police Wednesday claimed to have arrested a man who had been evading arrest for the last four years after his name surfaced in a murder case. The accused identified as Nilu Panda, a resident of Samantarapurpatna under Dhauli police limits, was on the radar for his involvement in the murder of septuagenarian Bansidhar Kalia. ACP, Zone-II, Girija Shankar Chakrabarty said the accused was produced before a court for remand following his arrest under Sections 302 and 34 of IPC. Earlier three brothers of Panda had been arrested in the case.
Giving details of the case, the ACP said in 2019 Panda and his brothers got into a brawl with Kalia over allotment of chairs during a Raja Mahotsav ceremony at Bhairangeswar Temple. As the situation escalated, the foursome thrashed Kalia with wooden planks, causing the latter’s death, said Chakrabarty. Later, Panda’s three brothers were arrested.
However, Panda went underground. A Dhauli police official said they were recently tipped off about Panda’s relocation to Jatni. The ACP said a fortnight ago, an operation was launched under the supervision of DCP Prateek Singh to nab him. On receipt of information about Panda’s visit to his family, sleuths from the Dhauli police station laid a trap in the vicinity. When Panda was sighted, the police team arrested him, he added.
DEBADURLLAV HARICHANDAN, OP