One of the four persons, who had sustained injuries during the attack on labour Minister Susant Singh’s brother and his associates at Sohela in Bargarh district late on Thursday night, succumbed to his injuries at the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack on Saturday. The deceased was identified Dileswar Sahu, driver of the Minister’s brother Subrat Singh’s car.
Meanwhile, the Bargarh police on the day arrested another person in connection with the incident. The accused was identified as Narayan Panda. Earlier, three persons identified as Basudev Naik, Digvijay and Jai Prakash Agarwal had been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack.
later, Sahu’s body was brought to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headquarters in Bhubaneswar, where Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik paid floral tributes to him. Patnaik announced financial assistance for the deceased’s kin and said the party will look after the education of his children.
“I am deeply distressed at the tragic demise of Dileswar Sahu. The BJD will look after his family and his children’s education. He is survived by wife and two small children. This is a very heinous and dreadful crime. As it is a peaceful State, the people of Odisha will give befitting reply to the criminals responsible for this murder. Stringent action would be taken against those involved in the incident,” Patnaik said.
BJD vice-president Prasanna Acharya condemning the incident said an intolerant BJP apprehensive of defeat in the Bijepur by-polls is indulging in such inhuman activities. He demanded stringent action not only against those involved in the crime but those who conspired in the background.
BJD State secretary Bijay Nayak said the BJP’s end is near. The blood thirsty saffron party has taken one more life. It has been proved that the BJP doesn’t hesitate to take lives of people for votes.
However, the BJP said it is sad that Dileswar lost his life due to the violent incident in Sohela. Minister Sussant Singh’s brother Subrat Singh who has a criminal background was attacked over tender fixing and intra-party rivalry. The BJD spokespersons blaming the BJP immediately after the incident has raised suspicions, said BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma.
A BJP delegation led by State vice president Sameer Mohanty also met the Governor and submitted a memorandum urging him to take appropriate steps. The party also demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident, alleging that the State police are working on the directions of the BJD.