A Panchayat Samiti Member was shot dead near Jamujhara village under the Tumusingha police station in Dhenkanal district late on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Deepak Mahunta.
Though the exact motive behind the crime was yet to be ascertained, family members of the deceased alleged that the incident was a political murder.
Locals found the body of Deepak lying in a pool of blood near his car at Jamujhara village on Saturday morning. He was immediately rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital. But doctors there declared him brought dead.
Presently, Deepak’s wife is the Sarpanch of Baruan gram panchayat. The deceased’s son Dibyadarshan alleged that his father has been murdered over political and business enmity.
The Kamakhyanagar police started an investigation into the incident.
“An investigation into the incident is ongoing. From the medical report, we came to know that the deceased has been shot. We would be able to reveal more details after investigation,” said Kamakhyanagar SDPO Ranjan Kumar Dey.