BJD Forms Fact-Finding Team to Probe Balasore Trader’s Killing, Raises Law and Order Concerns

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has constituted a seven-member team to visit Balasore and assess the situation following the daylight killing of a trader in the district, expressing concern over the state’s law and order situation.

The move comes after trader SK Hamid of Remuna was allegedly shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants at Arad Bazar in Balasore town on Thursday afternoon.

According to the party, BJD president Naveen Patnaik directed the formation of the delegation to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the incident. The team will be coordinated by Balasore district BJD president Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi.

During the visit, the delegation will inspect the crime scene and interact with members of the Balasore Bazar Committee, local traders, the victim’s family, and other stakeholders to gather firsthand information about the incident and review the prevailing law and order situation.

The party said the delegation will also urge the police to carry out a fair, impartial, and time-bound investigation, ensure the early arrest of those involved in the murder, and take stronger measures to prevent such crimes and restore public confidence in law enforcement.

The BJD team comprises district president Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, MLA and district working president Goutambudha Das, BJD general secretary Lekhashri Samantsinghar, MLA Madhav Dhada, and former MLAs Swarup Kumar Das, Sukant Kumar Nayak, and Jiban Pradip Dash.

Following the visit, the delegation has been directed to submit a detailed report, including its observations and recommendations, to BJD president Naveen Patnaik.