Berhampur Police arrested Jeypore-based businessman Sunil Hota for sheltering suspects involved in the murder of BJP leader and advocate Pitabash Panda.
The arrest took place in Sriramnagar, Koraput, after Berhampur Police coordinated with Jeypore Town Police to track him down.
During the investigation, authorities discovered that Hota had provided refuge to accused Uma Bisoi and shooter Kurapati Bhuyan at a brick factory in Tatibeda village near Jeypore. Following the murder, both suspects reportedly stayed at Hota’s farmhouse for four days. Since Hota is a known associate of Bikram Panda, police summoned him for questioning. After interrogation, they handed him over to the Berhampur team.
Today, Hota is scheduled to appear before the court.
Meanwhile, police arrested 12 other individuals yesterday in connection with the case. Officials have lodged all of them in separate wards at Berhampur Central Jail. With Hota’s arrest, the total number of accused in the Pitabash Panda murder case has now reached 13.
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