Sambalpur: Political violence has been continuing ever since the by-election to Bijepur Assembly constituency on February 24.

In a firing incident at the BJP office at Bhatli, party activist Bulu Satnami, 18, died of his injuries on Friday night. The cops seized a pistol and empty cartridges from the spot and detained three persons, said sub-divisional police officer Suresh Chandra Naik.

BJP sources said Bulu had been to the party office to attend a preparatory meeting for the proposed June 4 demonstration. Bulu wanted to discuss on the availability of flags and banners required for the procession. Around 10.30pm, there was firing inside the office in which Bulu was injured on his head. He was rushed to Bargarh district headquarters hospital where doctors referred him to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (Vimsar), Burla. The doctors at Vimsar declared him brought dead.

Bargarh police superintendent Mukesh Kumar Bhamu visited the spot to supervise the investigation. The high-profile bypoll had witnessed several instances of political violence.

On February 22 night, two days before the poll, a group of BJP activists allegedly attacked minister Sushanta Singh's brother Subrat Singh, his driver Dileswar Sahu and two others at Banabira near Bhatli with lathis and other weapons. They damaged the vehicle. The seriously-injured driver had later succumbed to injuries at SCB hospital in Cuttack. Senior BJP leader and former minister Jayanarayan Mishra, who was accused of being involved in the attack, was arrested on March 15 from his Sambalpur residence along with his supporter Biba Kumar Diwan. Mishra was latter remanded in jail custody.

Orissa High Court later granted conditional bail on health ground to Mishra till July 27.

On April 1, state BJP Yuba Morcha secretary Irasis Acharya and state BJP secretary Ranjan Patel were attacked by a group of armed people near the Sohela jail when they had gone to meet Mishra. Both the injured were admitted to Bargarh district headquarters hospital.

The police arrested four persons. The district BJP unit protested against the incident by demonstrating near the police superintendent's office demanding the arrest of labour minister Sushant Singh alleging his involvement in the incident.