Dhenkanal, May 19: The police continue to grope in the dark about the motive behind the murder of Hindol Block BJD chairman Nabaghan Sahu on last Saturday.

Political parties and elected representatives of the local bodies have demanded a CBI probe into the incident and the resignation of the woman and child welfare minister Anjali Behera, who is also the local MLA.

“We are yet to arrive at any conclusion pertaining to the motive and involvement of any political figure in the murder. The main suspected accused, Jitu, is yet to be arrested. However, we had found many leads from another accused, Titu.

“At present, Titu is in jail,” said Satyabrata Bhoi, Angul superintendent of police and officer in-charge of Dhenkanal district.

The Angul SP said efforts had been on to arrest Jitu and his associate soon.

“Police will not spare anyone if we have conclusive evidence against any person. Our aim is to arrest Jitu to unravel the mystery revolving around the murder of the block chairman,” he said.

The BJD chairman was hit by a vehicle.

The local people suspected that political rivalry could have been cause of the murder.

The deceased’s brother, in his complaint, stated that his brother, a powerful politician of the area had been murdered.

On Wednesday, about 60 panchayati raj institution members, including five block chairpersons, zilla parishad members, sarpanchs and panchayat samiti members, held a meet here and demanded a CBI probe into the murder suspecting a political conspiracy behind it.

“We demand a CBI probe into the murder in such a manner.

“We suspect political conspiracy behind the act. If the government fails to order a CBI probe and arrest the culprits within seven days, we would resort to agitation,” said Jayakrushna jena, president of the Zilla Parishad members’ union.

“There is no law and order in Dhenkanal. It is evident from the killing of a ruling party chairman. He was the victim of a political conspiracy. His political mentor did not allow him to hold panchayat samiti meetings at Hindol,” said Rebati Behera, president of Dhenkanal zilla paraishad.

The district BJP also echoed the same and threatened to go for an agitation if a CBI probe is not ordered in seven days.

District BJP president Krushan Chandra Patra demanded Anjali’s resignation and a CBI probe into the incident. He described it as a political murder and raised questions on the minister’s statement.

“The state police cannot provide justice in this incident because she is a minister,” said Patra.

Earlier, Rajya Sabha member Rudra Narayan Pany of the BJP had also demanded resignation of the minister.