Dhenkanal, May 20: Local residents backed by Opposition parties staged a rally in front of Rasol police station today pressing for a CBI probe into the murder of Hindol block chairman Nagaghan Sahu.

The agitators demanded a CBI inquiry into the murder of the block chairman and resignation of the local MLA and minister for the woman and child welfare Anjali Behera to ensure that the probe was fair.

Then they submitted a memorandum addressed to the governor to the local tehsildar.

“We do not believe that the three accused have murdered the block chairman on their own. There is certainly someone big behind the crime and the mastermind should be brought to book,” said local leader Chhabiraj Biswal, who presided over the meeting.

Only a CBI inquiry can unravel the truth and expose the involvement of any political figure in the incident, he said. Expressing his doubt over the fairness of the investigation by the state police since a ruling party leader was allegedly behind the murder, Biswal said this was evident from the fact that the main accused Jitendra Kumar Sahu (Jitu), a close confidant of local MLA, yet to be arrested.

“We are making all efforts to nab Jitu, the prime accused, soon,” said sub-divisional police officer B.N. Dandapat.

“The meeting was peaceful,” said sub-divisional police officer B.N. Dandapat.

Demanding resignation of local MLA amd minister Anjali Behera, another local leader, Laxmidhar Sahu said “ The government should order for CBI inquiry into the murder of the block chairman, whose life was under threat'.

The agitators threatened to intensify their stir, if CBI inquiry was not ordered into the murder.

Sub divisional police officer, Dandapat said, ' We are making all out efforts to nab the prime accused Jitu soon'..