BJP national vice-president Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda received a death threat this week, in which the caller threatened to assassinate the leader along the lines of Odisha minister Naba Das’s murder earlier this year.
The press release from Panda’s office said a complaint was lodged with the Delhi Police on Wednesday. “Whether this constitutes a real threat or was a juvenile prank is not possible for us to determine. Since such a message should not be taken lightly, a complaint with all details of the threat call has been lodged with the Delhi Police yesterday, who are investigating into the matter,” it said.
Panda, a prominent leader from Odisha, had quit the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in 2018 and joined the BJP in March 2019. Within a week, he was made the party’s vice president and spokesperson.
Odisha minister Naba Das had died on January 29 this year after he was shot in broad daylight by an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) at Brajarajnagar, where he had gone to attend an event. The ASI was believed to be suffering from a mental disorder.
