BJP leader and former mayor of Berhampur Municipal Corporation in Odisha, Siba Shankar Dash, was brought back to the city on Friday after being arrested in New Delhi by a special police team of the city police on Thursday.
According to police sources, for the past five months he was absconding. The police had been tracking him as three non-bailable warrants were pending against him in Golanthara, Badabazar and Gosaninuagaon police stations of the Berhampur police district.
These cases were related to murder attempt, illegal use of explosives, extortion and threats.
Speaking to newsmen on Friday, Berhampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashis Singh said after being produced in a court in New Delhi, Dash was brought back to Odisha by air on three days’ transit remand. “For further interrogation the local police would seek his seven days’ remand from Berhampur court,” he added.
Dash was rounded up from Paharganj area of New Delhi with the help of a special team of Delhi police. His associate Anil Nayak, who also has past criminal record and is out on bail, was arrested along with him.
Dash has a long list of criminal activities since 1998. He is linked to at least 21 criminal cases including murder. His arrest is part of a planned mission of the police to curb organised crime in Berhampur and Ganjam district, said Mr Singh.
Two major criminal gangs allegedly operated in Berhampur city. One was headed by Dash and the leader of the other was former Congress MLA Ramesh Jena, who has also been arrested. Tussle between the two gangs was jeopardising peace of the city. As per the SP, with the arrest of Dash several persons who were silent due to fear are expected to come out and file cases against Dash such as land grabbing by threat, extortion etc like what happened after arrest of Jena.
Dash had joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and become the mayor of the city. But just before the Assembly polls of 2014, he left the ruling BJD to contest the polls from Berhampur as a BJP candidate.
At present he is also a BJP corporator of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation. The Odisha State unit of the BJP is till now silent about his arrest and has not protested against it.
