Over a fortnight after advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda was gunned down by miscreants near his house in the Silk City, Berhampur Police Wednesday claimed to have cracked the gruesome murder by arresting BJD district unit president Bikram Panda and 11 others, and revealing that a Rs 50-lakh contract was made for the execution.

Initially, police arrested two youths from Bihar — Kumar Paswan and Kundan — who were reportedly brought to Berhampur by Uma Bisoi to carry out the shooting. Bisoi had arranged their stay in a rented accommodation in Alakapuri area with the help of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) corporator Malay, officers said.

The duo conducted reconnaissance for two days, but abandoned the plan after learning that Pitabas was an advocate, the accused told police. The

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