A local BJP leader was shot dead by unidentified men outside the party’s office in Odisha’s Khurda late on Sunday night.
This incident took place a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar for a public meeting and a roadshow.
This is the second instance of poll violence in the eastern state in less than three weeks. Earlier, an independent candidate, about to join the ruling BJD, was hacked to death in Odisha’s Keonjhar district by unknown men on March 26.
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Reacting on Manguli Jena’s murder, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “We have to respond to his death not by bullet, but by ballot. Odisha CM Naveen Babu is shedding crocodile tears. Incident like this in a democracy is condemnable.”
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on BJP Khordha Mandal President Manguli Jena’s murder: We have to respond to his death not by bullet, but by ballot. Odisha CM Naveen Babu is shedding crocodile tears. Incident like this in a democracy is condemnable. pic.twitter.com/nkl1v0snh7
— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2019
Whereas, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also condemned the murder of the BJP leader and urged the Election Commission to direct the police to take stringent action against the culprits.
The police said the murder of the BJP’s Khurda mandal president Manguli Jena was linked to him edging out a fellow villager and a BJD leader over the leasing of a village pond recently.
Odisha is simultaneously polling for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in four phases. The votes will be counted on May 23.