In yet another glaring incident of the deterioration of the law and order situation in Ganjam district, a BJD leader and bus owner of Paklapalli village in Aska, Prakash Palai, was shot dead in a private bus on Monday night.
A critically-injured Palai had been rushed to the MKCG Medical College Hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead.
Sources said the owner of bus ‘Radhakrishna’ was on his way from Aska to Brahmapur. At Karanjei, four youths stopped the bus. Before the passengers could know anything, the miscreants boarded the bus and opened fire at Pallai from close range and escaped from the spot. Prakash’s wife Babita Palai is a Councillor of the Aska NAC.
Sources said Prakash had a rift with some villagers of Paklapalli village over liquor trade. Besides, he had an enmity with a new anti-social group which has sprung up in the area. After getting information, Aska IIC Balaswar Giddhi rushed to the spot with other personnel and began investigation. The incident has sent shockwaves in the region.