Orissa Congress legislator arrested in Andhra

BHUBANESWAR - An Congress legislator from Orissa’s Ganjam district, who had been on the run after his alleged involvement in the murder of a criminal in his constituency early this year, was arrested from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, police said Friday.

Ramesh Chandra Jena, who represents Sanakhemundi constituency, was arrested from Visakhapatnam Thursday evening, Ganjam district’s superintendent of police Shefeen Ahamed Khan told IANS.

He was early Friday produced before a magistrate, who rejected his bail petition and remanded him to judicial custody, Khan said.

Rabi Behera alias Chicken Rabi, a notorious criminal and supporter of the ruling Biju Janata Dal, was shot dead at Berhampur town, about 180 km from here, Jan 1.

Police began looking for Jena after a father-son duo arrested for their role in the killing disclosed that he had hired them to eliminate Chicken Rabi.

With the arrest of Jena, the total number of people held in the case has gone up to 13, Khan said.