In a heartfelt and emotionally charged appeal, Susmita Panda, the wife of slain BJP leader and senior advocate Pitabas Panda, has called on the Odisha Police to ensure that the alleged conspirators and suspects in her husband’s murder remain without bail until the case reaches a fair and lawful resolution. Speaking to the media at her home in Baikunthanagar, Susmita, accompanied by her two brothers-in-law, expressed her profound worries regarding her family’s safety. “We are living in fear. We urge the Chief Minister to secure justice for us,” she said, her voice shaking with sorrow. Susmita revealed that her son received threatening calls from unknown numbers on October 27 and 28, demanding that they withdraw the case.
The callers, claiming to be supporters of Bikram Panda, allegedly used abusive language and threatened that mother and son would suffer the same fate as Pitabas if they continued with the case. Following this, Pitabas Panda’s brother, Purnachandra, filed a police report at BN Pur police station on November 3. “We trust the Berhampur Police, but we urgently need protection for our lives,” Susmita pleaded. Reflecting on the relationship between Pitabas and the arrested Bikram Panda, she shared that Bikram used to visit their home frequently when they lived in Neelakantha Nagar. “I am unaware of what transpired between them. My husband never discussed court matters or political issues with me,” she noted.
On the day of the incident, Susmita spoke to Pitabas around 6 pm. He instructed her not to prepare dinner as he would bring food home. The news of his tragic shooting reached her around 10 pm. “Bikram visited our house the following day, embraced my son, and promised us justice. However, we were later stunned to learn of his arrest in connection to the conspiracy,” she recounted, her sorrow turning to disbelief. The police are now in possession of the phone numbers used for the threats, with preliminary identification through Truecaller indicating the names ‘Vicky’ and ‘Das’. The grieving family is now awaiting both protection and justice.