Bhubaneswar/Sambalpur: Police on Thursday arrested senior BJP leader and former minister Jayanarayan Mishra for the alleged attack on Subrat Singh, brother of minister of state for labour Sushant Singh, and two others at Banabira in Bargarh district on February 22.

The incident had occurred in the run up to the Bijepur bypoll. One of the injured, Subrat's driver, Dileswar Sahu, had later succumbed to injuries at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

The arrest has angered the BJP and the party threatened to launch a state-wide agitation from Friday.

The goons, who had attacked the trio at Banabira with lathis and other weapons, were also alleged to have opened fire at Subrat's vehicle, damaging it. Mishra, along with his supporter Biba Kumar Diwan, were arrested on charges of murder and for possessing illegal arms.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik said: "The law would take its own course in the matter in a very fair and just manner."

A police team raided Mishra's house at Nanadpada in Sambalpur on Thursday morning and took him into custody. DGP R.P. Sharma said police have strong evidence against Mishra. The Sohela court has sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.

Shortly after the arrest, Mishra's supporters in Sambalpur obstructed the police vehicle and shouted anti-government slogans. DSP, Padampur, Laxminarayan Panda said: "Mishra's name was in the FIR and he was arrested after verification."

BJP president Basanta Panda described the arrest as "vindictive" and said his party would launch a peaceful "satyagraha" in Odisha from Friday. In Bhubaneswar, BJP workers demonstrated outside the DCP's office.

Mishra, an influential leader from west Odisha, claimed that he was first attacked by the BJD supporters and had informed the inspector general of police, Northern Range, Sushant Nath about the incident on the night the alleged attack on the minister's brother took place.

"I have no idea about the attack on them, since I had left the place," he said.

Mishra said he fell ill after the incident and had gone to AIIMS, Delhi, for treatment. "The government should hand over the case to the CBI," he said. Minister of state for labour Singh said that Mishra had masterminded the attack .

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY OUR BUREAU