Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra has accused a senior minister from undivided Koraput district of trying to shield Tikiri lady teacher murder accused Netrasen Dandasena. He claimed that dismissed School Inspector Netrasen Dandasena stayed at the Minister’s house in Bhubaneswar, while he was on the run following the murder attempt on Tikiri lady teacher Itishree Pradhan, who later died at a Vizag hospital.

Although Mr. Mohapatra did name the Minister, his reference was quite obvious. School and Mass Education Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda was quick to address the media and rejected the claims made by Bijoy Mohapatra. He wondered whether Mr. Mohapatra has been keeping a tab on his house to know about his guests.

Mr. Nanda further said that he only allows known people (with clean record) from his district to stay at his residence. It can be recalled that Koraput MP Jayaram Pangi has been under scanner for his close links with Netrasen Dandasena. Even, Itishree had mentioned this in her dying declaration. There were allegations that both Pangi and Rabi Nanda tried to shield Dandasena when a sexual harassment complaint was lodged against him by Itishree three months ago.