Bhubaneshwar: Two persons were arrested on Monday for allegedly terrorising the Odisha Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) president Basant Panda using “guns”.

The police later confirmed that the guns were actually cigarette lighters.

The incident occurred at about 11.30 am when Panda was in his chamber. The two, Pinak Mohanty and Sambit Panda, walked into the state BJP president’s office and handed him a bunch of papers. They were also holding two toy guns which initially appeared genuine. Soon the duo stepped out holding the fake guns which drew the attention of the party workers and a section of media persons who were present.

Meanwhile, Kharavela Nagar Police was informed and a team reached the party office and took the two into custody.

Panda said the two threatened him at gunpoint. “I suspect this is a conspiracy by my opponents,” he told the New Indian Express.

According to BJP sources, one of the two had met Panda on November 19 and had sought financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh for his father’s heart transplant operation. Panda had suggested him to seek help from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and assured to help them. However, what prompted the two to pull the stunt on Monday is yet to be ascertained.

“We have recovered two gun-shaped cigarette lighters from them. Further investigation is on,” Kharvel Nagar Inspector in-charge Anup Kanungo said.