Cuttack, March 15: The state unit BJP today suspended Debasish Ghosh from the primary membership of the party, two days after police had interrogated him for his alleged links with gangster siblings Sushant and Sushil Dhal Samant.

A press release, issued by the BJP, stated that Ghosh had been suspended from the primary membership of the party for gross indiscipline. Notably, Ghosh was the working president of the Cuttack Nagar Yuvak Sangha, a voluntary organisation floated by the Dhal Samant siblings. On March 10, Ghosh was served notice asking him to appear before Chauliaganj police within seven days for interrogation over links with the criminal duo.

Yesterday, two BJD councillors - Ranjita Biswal and Chiranjay Sahu - were interrogated by separate teams in connection with their alleged links with the gangster brothers. On March 1, Chauliganj police had arrested Chiranjay Sahu's brother, Antaryami, for allegedly demanding extortion from local businessmen and on the basis of three pending warrants.

The police have now turned its focus on nabbing their close associates. According to investigation, the role of seven close aides, who once controlled tender fixing and extortion racket for the gangster siblings in the twin cities, is now under the scanner.

Though raids had earlier been conducted at several hideouts of the gangster brothers in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and its nearby areas, the aides managed to give the cops a slip after the siblings' arrest on January 29.

It is suspected that the criminals have escaped to Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh after the crackdown on the empire and network of Dhal Samant brothers here.

"We have formed two special teams to nab the associates, who are still absconding," said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.

Senior police officials said all the information collected through a series of interrogation of several associates and the sangha members are now being consolidated to widen the scope of probe. Sushil had formed the sangha to unite youth in the city. But, sources said he wanted to fulfil his political ambitions through the social organisation.

Sources said Badambadi police would shortly reopen an extortion and threat case registered by a trader in 1999 against Bhuan.

On February 21, the police had arrested Pramod Patra alias Bhuan, one of the key associates of the Dhal Samant brothers, during a raid on his residence at Shankarpur.

He was the president of Badambadi-Shankarpur puja committee.

The police had then recovered unaccounted cash of Rs 76.20 lakh from Bhuan, the former secretary of the private bus owners' association in Cuttack. Sources said Bhuan had been involved in extortion racket and the cops found few money receipts and other vital documents, which were now being scrutinised.