Key accused in RTI farmer activist murder case held

The Crime branch of Odisha Police arrested the key accused in the murder case of Niali farmer Krupasindhu Bhoi, who was allegedly killed for seeking certain agriculture-related information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Investigating officer (IO) SB Jena said Kartik Pani was interrogated at the crime branch headquarters here following his arrest this morning and would be produced in the court on Saturday.

The 40-year-old farmer had sought information from the district agriculture office about fund distribution in his block towards line-sowing of paddy, fertiliser and seeds. But, he went missing on January 26 this year following which his wife filed a police complaint on January 28 alleging her husband has been kidnapped.

Krupasindhu's body was found at a deserted riverbed in a nearby locality on January 31, five days after he went missing. Based on ransom calls made to the deceased farmer's wife, the local Niali police had arrested three persons, including two women.

Bowing to public outcry, the state government entrusted investigation of the case to the crime branch, which took up the case on February 9.