Independent Candidate Shibashankar Das Arrested for Attacking BJP LS Candidate Pradeep Panigrahy in Berhampur

Berhampur: Shibashankar Das, an independent candidate from the Berhampur Assembly seat was arrested by the police on Tuesday on charges of attacking BJP’s Berhampur Lok Sabha candidate Pradeep Panigrahi on Monday.

Das is the former mayor of Berhampur. He and Panigrahi reportedly had a violent clash at the booth in Utkalmani UP School in the Gosaninuagaon area of Berhampur during the first phase of polls in the state.

According to police sources, Das was booked on attempt to murder charge. He was sent to judicial custody as his bail petition was rejected.

Meanwhile, Panigrahi was shifted to Bhubaneswar AIIMS for advanced treatment after initial treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.

Speaking to the media, the wife of Panigrahi, Sujata alleged that her husband suffered fracture in the chest as well as injury in the neck.