The Bargarh police arrested Banti alias Ayushman Purohit (28) from his Sambalpur residence on the charge of his involvement in last year’s election violence where one person died and three got injured.
The incident took place on February 22, 2018 night at Banabira Ashram under Sohela police station when electioneering was on for the high profile Bijepur by-election after the seat lay vacant with the death of MLA Subal Sahu.
In a gang attack on BJD supporters and brother of Minister Susanta Singh, three others got critically injured. One Dielswar Sahu alias Magi succumbed to the injuries while undergoing treatment.
Police arrested 10 persons in the case, including former Minister Jayanarayan Mishra of Sambalpur who is on bail now on health ground.
Police were in search of six other accused persons and arrested Banti from Sambalpur on Tuesday, SDPO LN Panda said.
Banti was remanded to judicial custody after his bail petition was rejected, Panda added.
After the murder case, Banti absconded from his home and was staying in different metro cities of the country. But police came to know about his presence in Sambalpur after 11 months and formed a team to arrest him.
“10 cases of grievous nature in Sambalpur town police station and one case in Khetrajpur police station are pending against Banti,” the SDPO informed.