Kendrapara, June 8: The murder of a village sarpanch today at a market in Aul sparked tension in the politically sensitive Assembly constituency here.

A group of six criminals waylaid Chitrasen Das, sarpanch of Singiri gram panchayat, at Hospital Chowk around 6am today. Later, they clubbed him to death using iron rods. Local residents spotted a bloodstained Chitrasen lying on the ground and took him to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Chitrasen was a member of the BJD. His murder sparked tension with the police stepping up security.

Local residents, led by MLA Debendra Sharma, blocked the Cuttack-Chandbali state highway to protest against the murder and declining law and order in the area, disrupting traffic for over six hours.

The police have already identified the alleged killers. Both the deceased and the attackers were supporters of the BJD, said Kendrapara superintendent of police Nitinjeet Singh. The primary accused, Khirod Das, allegedly masterminded and executed the murder along with at least five accomplices. Chitrasen and Khirod had a history of enmity, which resulted in the murder, Singh said.

"We have removed the local police station inspector Nilakantha Patra. The people protesting against the murder alleged that he had failed to maintain law and order. We transferred him to maintain fairness of investigation and posted him at the district headquarters," he said.

"The situation went out of hand as news of the murder spread. Over 1,000 people, cutting across party lines, rushed to the hospital and the police station. Later, they staged a roadblock. However, normality has been restored now. We have deployed a force to patrol specific areas," said sub-divisional police officer Kedarnath Sahu.

"The sarpanch's murder lends credence to the belief that the police have failed to ensure the safety of life and property. Chitrasen had earlier informed the police that his life was in danger. But, the cops turned a blind eye," said Aul MLA Debendra Sharma.

The police, criminals and the ruling party have formed an unholy nexus. Police stations in Aul have turned into BJD party offices," Sharma said.

Bombs hurled

Unidentified criminals today hurled country-made bombs at the District Rural Development Agency office.

The incident occurred around 9am when a meeting of zilla parishad members was on at the office conference hall. However, no damage has been reported as the bomb did not explode.

"We have started a search to nab the culprits," said Kendrapara police station inspector Sanjeev Mohanty.