Security has been tightened in and around the Brahmapur Circle Jail here with top Maoist Sabyasachi Panda lodged in it. Panda was sent to the jail when his nine-day remand with the Crime Branch (CB) in connection with certain cases pertaining to the Maoist attack in Nayagarh in February 2008 ended on Friday.
“Two warders guard the cell where Panda is lodged,” said a senior jail officer. Armed police forces have been deployed outside the jail. Police are also keeping an eye on the movement of persons near the jail. Panda along with 13 other Maoists was lodged in the jail. However, some ultras were transferred to the Bhanjanagar jail as their trial is on in a court there.
The CB is seeking further remand of Panda in connection with a case of his alleged involvement in certain Maoist-related cases in Kandhamal. The SDJM, Brahmapur, has allowed SDJM of Baliguda of Kandhamal district to take him on remand for 10 days. The court hearing a petition filed by Panda’s counsel Deepak Patnaik seeking medical treatment for his ‘unwell’ client directed the jail authorities to treat him according to the rules of the jail manual.
Panda, the chief of Odisha Maovadi Party, was arrested on July 17 from Magalavarampeta under Bada Bazaar area here and Berhampur police had taken him on 10-day remand to interrogate him. On July 30, CB took him on remand to Cuttack in connection with cases number 42/2008 (attack on Nayagarh police station) and 43/2008 (attack on police reserve office and loot of Nayagarh district armoury).