Paradip, May 27: Police today arrested one person in connection with the murder of a sitting member of panchayat samiti at Erasama.

The cops arrested Ekagharia villager Rabindra Paital, 45, who had allegedly masterminded the murder.

Yesterday, violence erupted in the area after 50-year-old Rabindra Swain from Nuadi panchayat had been found lying dead near a roadside culvert close to Tulupada village. Following this, over a thousand local residents barged into the local police station and hospital and ransacked official property.

Today, normality was restored at the deceased's native village Dashipur and its adjoining areas after the police had made the arrest. "We are looking for at least nine other people in connection with Swain's murder," said Jagatsinghpur sub-divisional police officer Kishore Kumar Dangayat.

Initiating coercive action against those, who had perpetrated violence yesterday, the police filed cases against unspecified number of persons.

In another development, panic looms large at Dashipur with fear of further police crackdown. Many villagers have fled the area fearing possible arrest.

"We are still reposing faith and trust in the cops. However, the police erred in its duty as they failed to reach the crime spot which was hardly 2km from Erasama police station. It was a rare act of spontaneous protest against failure of police machinery in the area leading to spurt in crime," said villager Artatrana Behera.