Balangir, Jan. 25: Police is yet to apprehend the main accused in the double murder of a young contractor and his aide even 10 days after the incident. The Opposition, including Congress and BJP, are leaving no stone unturned to gain political mileage out of the case.

After the police confirmed Jaya Prakash Pati, the vice-chairman of Loisingha block and a prominent leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), was the prime accused, the Opposition parties have shown a lot of interest in the case.

Senior party leaders have toured the victims’ village, Sindurbahal near Balangir, to console the families of the victims. They have also blamed members of the BJD for the deteriorating law and order situation in the district.

While Suresh Pujhari, the former president of Odisha BJP, visited the victim’s village yesterday and demanded a fast-track court for early disposal of the case, the Congress has gone a step further and called a bandh on January 28.

Local Congress leader Asim Pattnaik alleged that Balangir has now turned into a hub of criminals.

“Murders, dacoities and rapes have become common here. Police have not been able to arrest the accused of the rape and murder of a woman in Titilagarh. They have also failed to nab the prime accused in the double murder case,” Pattnaik said.

The Congress resorted to road blockade on Tuesday to protest against police inaction and had given 48 hours to nab the main accused in the double murder case. But police have not made any arrest even after the deadline.

“We have decided to call a 12-hour Balangir bandh on January 28. Even after that if nothing happens, we will launch our agitation in a big way and may call for Balangir district bandh in future,” said Pattnaik.

Pujhari came down heavily on the chief minister, who also heads the home department, and demanded his resignation. “The chief minister is doing nothing though a member of his party is the main accused in the case,” Pujhari said.