Odisha lawyers observe ‘pen down’ protest over advocate Pitabas Panda’s murder

Bhubaneswar, Oct 8 (UNI) Lawyers across Odisha staged a “pen down” protest today against the murder of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda, who was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants in Berhampur city.

The attack has triggered widespread outrage amid growing concerns over the state’s law and order situation.

Members of the State and District Bar Councils abstained from their daily work, expressing deep concern over the killing and the failure of the police to apprehend the culprits 36 hours after the incident.

“Police ought to arrest the killers within 48 hours and ascertain the motive of the murder.

The State Government should order a judicial inquiry into the crime without further delay as the incident has laid bare the fact that each law-abiding citizen, including the Bar members, are feeling unsafe as criminals are having a field day.

The bereaved family members should be awarded Rs 1 crore compensation by the government”, Sitanshu Mohan Diwedi, President of the Odisha State Bar Council, said.

In a related development, the Bar Council of India (BCI) yesterday called for the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case in a time-bound manner.

“The safety and dignity of advocates are non-negotiable. BCI demands swift and decisive action from the state government to bring all perpetrators and conspirators to justice, protect witnesses and the victim’s family, and reassure the Bar that the rule of law will prevail,” said BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra in a statement.

Meanwhile, police are yet to make any headway in identifying the assailants.
A senior police official, however, refusing to divulge details, said “police are investigating into the professional and political rivalry angle of the murder. We are hopeful of cracking the case shortly”.
Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik criticised the BJP government in Odisha, accusing it of pushing the state into a spiral of fear, lawlessness, and corruption.

In a strongly worded post on X, Patnaik said, “An atmosphere of fear prevails in the state during this festive season. People have begun to feel unsafe.”
He also raised concerns over the recent communal violence in Cuttack, a city hailed for its harmony, where curfew was imposed for the first time in three decades. “The city of brotherhood has been pushed into tension and mistrust. This is unprecedented,” he said