Even as the Dhenkanal police on Tuesday took suspended OSAP jawan Byomkesh Biswal, prime accused in the case of murder of BJP activist Salman Rout at Tarabha village in the district, on a two-day remand for further interrogation, the BJP resorted to a State-wide protest demanding arrest of Dhenkanal district’s Kamakhyanagar MlA and Minister Prafulla Mallick.
The Dhenkanal Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court on Monday allowed the police to take Biswal on a two-day remand against the three-day remand appeal.
Meanwhile, BJP activists staged demonstrations in all sub-divisions across the State accusing the Minister of prime conspirator in the murder case.
Shouting slogans against the BJD Government for introducing political violence in the State, the saffron party activists alleged that the Tarabha case is not an isolated case of violence ahead of the panchayat polls. It had observed a Dhenkanal Bandh on Monday protesting the murder.
Salman Rout (26) was shot at allegedly by Biswal on February 4 night following which he was admitted to the Dhenkanal District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in a profusely bleeding condition. However, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital later in the night.
Two groups had clashed in the village over putting up of posters for the upcoming panchayat polls in the State.
Meanwhile, the peace committee started its efforts to restore normalcy in Tarabha area even as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC. Five platoons of police forces were deployed in the village to prevent further escalation of violence.