Cuttack: As many as four accused have been apprehended in connection with the murder of BJP leader Kulamani Baral and his associate Dibya Singh Baral (Mahanga Murder Case).
The four were being interrogated by cops at an undisclosed location, reports said.
The Cuttack Rural police had formed five teams following which they carried out raids at various places in Mahanga area and arrested the four. Efforts were on by the police to nab other accused persons, reports added.
Kulamani, who was a popular leader and played a key role in exposing corruption in the region, was BJP’s Salipur Mandal in-charge (Prabhari).
On Saturday at about 7.30 pm, Kulamani was returning home along with his neighbouring associate Dibyasingh in a motorcycle when some miscreants attacked them with sharp-edged weapons leading to the death of Kulamani on the spot.
Dibyasingh who was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in the wee hours of Sunday.
Following the incident, leaders of the BJP’s Salepur unit blamed ruling BJD for the murders and termed the case as a political violence.
Responding to BJP ‘s attack over the murder of Kulamani Baral in Mahanga of Cuttack district a few days back, ruling BJD said the State government has a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ towards political violence and law will take its own course in this case as well.
Alleging the involvement of Jena in the double murder, while District BJP unit President Prakash Behera has sought the intervention of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik into the incident, the Law Minister refuted the allegation.
Cuttack SP (Rural) Jugal Kishore Kumar Banoth said that a case has been registered under section 302 of IPC basing on the FIR lodged by deceased Kulamani’s son.
