Panchayat Samiti Member Found Shot Dead in Bargarh

BARGARH: A Panchayat Samiti member was allegedly shot dead in Odisha’s Bargarh district, triggering a police investigation into the incident.
The deceased, identified as 40-year-old Achyutananda Nayak, a Samiti Sabhya from Agalpur Panchayat under Barpali block, was found dead inside his car early Friday morning. His body was discovered with bullet injuries on the Sinajori-Kebat Canal Road near the Bargarh-Sonepur border.
After being alerted, police teams from Dungripali and Barpali reached the spot and began collecting evidence and examining the circumstances surrounding the killing.
According to Nayak’s father, Sabhapati Nayak, Achyutananda had reportedly been receiving phone calls for several days from a person asking him to come and collect money. On Thursday night, he left home saying he was going to meet the person, but the family later lost contact with him.
The family subsequently approached Barpali police and lodged a complaint, demanding a detailed probe and strict action against those responsible.
Police sent the deceased’s body for post-mortem examination on Friday. A scientific team also inspected the crime scene and collected samples and other evidence.
Police are now investigating the motive behind the killing and working to identify and trace the suspected assailants.