Bhubaneswar/ Berhampur, Sept. 16: Goons hacked BJD youth leader of Ganjam and a councilor of Chhatrapur Notified Area Council (NAC), Laxmidutta Pradhan (35) alias Bachhana, to death in front of his house in presence of his family members this morning.

Laxmidutta's younger brother Debidutta Pradhan has also suffered grievous injuries on his hand and head in the attack.

Police have seized a video footage of the attack. However, they are yet to nab the accused.

'Around 10 to 12 persons came to our house with swords, lathis and other sharp weapons and attacked my brother. They also attacked me,' said Debidutta. He identified some members of the gang as Krushna, Sethi, Bhaskar, Kalia and Kuna.

Sub-divisional police officer Shantanu Das said: 'Laxmidutta was rushed to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, where he was declared dead on arrival.' His body was cremated in the evening.

Police suspect previous enmity as a reason behind the attack. Laxmidutta was one of the prime accused in the murder of a CPI youth leader Sakura Behera in Chhatrapur. Sakura was hacked to death on July 23, 2014.

Inspector of Chhatrapur police station Bishnu Prasad Patra said: 'We are investigating the case.' Local BJD MLA Priyanshu Pradhan alleged: 'The local CPI workers had recently joined the BJP during Dharmendra Pradhan's visit to the district. Laxmidutta was murdered by the newly recruited BJP workers.'

Food supplies minister Surya Narayan Patro, a native of Ganjam district, also said: 'BJP members have murdered Pradhan.'

However, the BJP ridiculed the BJD's accusations. 'We don't know when minister Patro took the role of an investigating officer,' said BJP leader Prithiviraj Harichandan.

Chairman of the Chhatrapur Notified Area Council Dhananjay Reddy said: 'Pradhan was a good organiser. I have lost a good friend.'