Odisha sets up 3 police teams to probe lawyer Pitabash Panda murder

Pitabash Panda was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle on Monday evening, minutes after he returned home in Berhampur town

Published on: Oct 7, 2025, 20:59:03 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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The Odisha police has formed three teams to look into all angles in connection with the murder of lawyer and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pitabash Panda in Odisha’s Berhampur, a senior police officer said on Tuesday.

Police said the BJP leader was shot at around 10 pm on Monday (X/ani_digital)

Panda was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle on Monday evening, minutes after he returned home in Berhampur town. The suspects fired one shot, which hit Panda on his chest.

“The lawyer never received any threat calls. So it makes it all the more difficult to know possible reasons. But one thing is clear. A professional committed the murder, as only one bullet was fired from a very close range,” the officer cited above said.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has demanded the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe Panda’s murder. Pitabash Panda was also a member of the Odisha State Bar Council.

BCI said all perpetrators, conspirators, and facilitators must be apprehended without delay.

“Any lapses in beat intelligence, preventive action, or local station response must be examined immediately, with errant officials placed under suspension pending inquiry,” the council said in a statement.

The state bar council has called a pen-down strike on Wednesday and demanded ₹1 crore compensation for Panda’s family.

Odisha chief minister Mohan Majhi said exemplary punishment would be given to the culprits.

Former chief minister Naveen Patnaik condoled the lawyer’s death and alleged that there was an atmosphere of fear.

“The fact that Pitabasa Panda, a senior lawyer of Ganjam, was shot and killed while sitting in front of his own house is extremely heinous and heartbreaking. The BJP government has completely failed to keep the law and order system strong in peaceful Odisha; which is creating an atmosphere of fear among the people. Why is the government not taking exemplary steps to stop crime? It is necessary for the government to be alert and vigilant for the interest of the people,” said Patnaik.

The Delhi-headquartered BCI has also called for a “rapid risk audit” for lawyers who may face intimidation. Also, it said, “all superintendents of police should hold immediate liaison meetings with local bar associations. In coordination with the high court administration, CCTV in court complexes and bar premises should be installed or repaired forthwith”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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