Written by Sujit BisoyiBhubaneswar | October 8, 2025 08:20 AM IST 2 min readExpressing concern over the incident, the Odisha Chief Minister said police have been instructed to arrest the culprits and assured exemplary punishment in the case.With police in Odisha’s Berhampur yet to identify the assailants who shot and killed local BJP leader and advocate Pitabas Panda, the Bar Council of India (BCI) on Tuesday demanded that of a special investigation team (SIT) be set up to probe the case in a time-bound manner.Lawyers across Odisha have also called for a “pen down” protest on Wednesday against Panda’s murder.On Monday, two motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at Panda near his residence at around 10 pm. He was immediately rushed to Berhampur’s MKCG Medical College and Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead.Story continues below this ad“The safety and dignity of advocates are non-negotiable. BCI demands decisive, time-bound action from the state government to bring every perpetrator and conspirator to justice, to protect witnesses and the victim’s family, and to reassure the Bar that the State will uphold the rule of law,” said BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra in a statement.The BCI has written a letter to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and police chief Y B Khurania seeking the formation of an SIT headed by a senior IPS officer unconnected with the local police station and with a written mandate to complete the probe in a time-bound manner.“If meaningful progress is not communicated within the timelines indicated, the Bar Council of India will be constrained to approach constitutional courts and to coordinate nationwide peaceful protests in defence of the safety and dignity of the legal profession. The independence of the Bar is a pillar of justice. An attack on one of us is an attack on all,” said the BCI statement.Expressing concern over the incident, the Odisha Chief Minister said police have been instructed to arrest the culprits and assured exemplary punishment in the case.Story continues below this adPolice sources said they are analysing the CCTV footage and forensic evidence to trace the attackers and establish the motive behind the killing. Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Bar Council of India (BCI)bhubaneswar