Lawyers across Odisha launched a pen-down protest on Wednesday to demand justice after two assailants shot and killed senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda in Berhampur on Kumar Purnima night.
The Odisha Bar Council initiated the strike and urged the government to ensure legal professionals receive better protection.
Lawyers from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur, Koraput, and Malkangiri joined the protest and condemned the killing. They described the attack as a direct blow to democracy and the rule of law.
Odisha Bar Council President Sitanshu Mohan Dwibedi demanded ₹1 crore in compensation for Panda’s family. He also pressed authorities to arrest the accused within 48 hours and impose the harshest punishment.
In Malkangiri, lawyers lit candles and observed silence to honor Panda. Koraput Bar Association called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a senior IPS officer. President Prabhat Mahapatra stressed the need for a time-bound investigation and immediate arrests of all conspirators.
Lawyers in Sambalpur submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the district administration. Association leaders Pradeep Bahidar and Arabind Nayak demanded swift action and financial support for Panda’s family.
Police deployed six teams to investigate the murder. Brahmapur SDPO took charge of the probe. Ganjam SP Subendu Kumar Patra confirmed that CCTV footage revealed key evidence. A forensic team reached the crime scene and began collecting proof. Officers intensified efforts to track down the culprits and tightened security across the city.
