The Bamebari police of Keonjhar district have arrested former BJD Councillor of Ward-7 of Joda civic body Sailendra Jora (42) and three others, including Dipak Mahakud (30), Santosh Mahanta(32) of Joda and Tutu Karua (35) of Bamebari, on the charges of attempt to commit dacoity and sent them to judicial custody on Wednesday.
Sources revealed that newly appointed SP Rajesh Pandit was the DSP of Barbil in the year 2008-09, the period of mining boom and Keonjhar district, particularly Joda and Barbil, was virtually controlled by the mining mafia and criminals. At that time, when he started taking actions against those mining mafias and other criminals, a powerful group of the mining mafias had planned to kill him but undaunted, he had booked many of mafias and sent them to jail for which he had earned good will among the people in the district.
Arrested Sailendra, a BJD leader, also deals with transporting of iron ore and other mining related business. After the arrest of Saiendra, there has been fear among other people involved in mining activities.
Bamebai IIC Banits Majhi said investigation was going on for which he declined to give details about the case.