In a significant development in the high-profile murder case of BJP leader Pitabas Panda, former Berhampur mayor Shibashankar Das, known as Pintu, was relocated from Berhampur jail to Phulbani jail on Thursday under heavy police escort. This shift adds another layer to a case that has unsettled the political and legal landscape in southern Odisha. Jail authorities were reportedly worried about Pintu’s safety in Berhampur, prompting them to seek a court order for his transfer. Sources from the prison administration indicated there were credible threats to his safety, stemming from potential conflicts with other inmates.
Pintu’s wife had previously requested a transfer to a jail in Ganjam district for family reasons, but the court denied this request, stating that no local jails could guarantee his safety. Consequently, the court ordered his transfer to Phulbani jail, deemed to be relatively safer and less influenced by rival factions. Additionally, it was noted that Mouz Mishra, linked to the Shanti Mishra murder case, and his affiliates are currently held in Berhampur and adjacent jails, raising fears of gang retaliation. Government prosecutor Biswajeet Barala announced that, following court directives, all future proceedings involving Pintu will occur via video conferencing to minimize security threats associated with his physical transport.
This transfer deepens the implications of the Pitabas Panda murder case, blending themes of power, politics, and danger as the former mayor confronts legal accountability far from the city he once governed. Recently, Odisha police arrested Sunya Chandra Das for allegedly harboring the contract killers responsible for Pitabas’ murder on the night of October 6. In total, 14 individuals, including former Berhampur MLA Bikram Kumar Panda, have been arrested in connection with the murder. Pitabas, a member of the State Bar Council, was shot by two assailants on a motorcycle near his home at Baikuntha Nagar while returning on his scooter.
