Bhubaneswar: Five people have been arrested for allegedly beating a 32-year-old railway police constable to death on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar after accusing him of molesting two women, police said on Friday, adding that they have intensified manhunts to identify and arrest others involved in the incident.
“The deceased has been identified as Soumya Ranjan Swain, a constable of the Government Railway Police, who was hacked to death in broad daylight in Balianta area on May 7 after an encounter between two women escalated into mob violence,” a senior police officer familiar with the matter said.
The alleged videos, which were circulated on social media, showed Swain tied to an iron structure and being assaulted by a mob. The incident sparked anger across the state.
Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Jagmohan Meena, revealed the details, saying, “Swain, who was posted in Cuttack and serving in the GRP for about 12 years, was traveling on a motorcycle with his colleague Om Prakash Rout near Ramachandrapur-Bhingarpur area when their car collided with a motorcycle carrying two women. The two women later accused the two policemen of misbehaving with them and trying to molest them while helping them.” them after the fall.”
When the matter escalated, residents of nearby villages gathered and claimed that they attacked the two men. The two men were tied up, beaten and dragged before being taken to the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, where Swain later died from his injuries. “Rut was rescued by the police and is undergoing treatment at the hospital,” DCP Meena said.
The officer said three parties were involved in the incident – the two women on the motorcycle, the two men, including the deceased, and the locals who assaulted Swain and the other man. Two FIRs have been registered in the case.
“A case of attempted rape under Sections 62 and 64 of the Anti-Terrorism Act has been registered against the deceased. A separate case of murder by unknown persons has also been registered under Section 103 of the Anti-Terrorism Act on the basis of a complaint filed by Swain family members,” the Communist Party added.
Narrating the ordeal she went through on Thursday around 11am, one of the women said: “Apparently the person who died was drunk and started tearing my dress after I fell from the sekui. He was abusing me and my friend while asking his friend to take us to their house. He was going to rape me. I screamed for help. I survived because locals gathered near us.”
Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh and DCP Jagmohan Meena said more suspects have been identified through CCTV footage, mobile videos and witness statements.
“Immediate action was taken and five suspects have already been arrested. We are scanning CCTV footage to find out more,” Meena said, adding that multiple police teams have been formed.
He added that additional police forces had been deployed in the area to prevent further tension.
Expressing concerns over the incident, Chief Minister Mohan Sharan Majhi asked Director General of Police (DGP) YP Khurania to conduct a detailed investigation and ensure strict action against all those involved. A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said: “Such mob violence must not be repeated.”
Former Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik described the incident as “barbaric” and questioned the police response. “Even as such a heinous event takes place near the state capital, the inexplicable silence of the government shocks the people of the state. If such incidents happen in the presence of police, who will people resort to protection? Why is the police department and the government helpless in front of criminals?” Patnaik posted on X.
The Odisha State Commission for Women’s Affairs has also initiated an investigation into the incident. State Commission for Women (SCW) chairperson Sobhna Mohanty said she would submit a report to the Prime Minister and recommend action based on the findings.
Mohanty met the two victims on Friday. “They want police security. They will be provided with all required assistance. I will submit the report to the Prime Minister,” PTI quoted her as saying.
Swain’s family members, including his mother Kavita Swain, staged protests and blocked roads, alleging police negligence and claiming delays in ambulance services worsened his condition.
The mother of the deceased said: “My son was beaten to death in the presence of the police. We demand action against the police officials.”
However, the police denied the allegations of negligence. “Officers responded immediately after receiving information about the attack,” DCP Meena said.
Swain, who is originally from Mujpur village and resides in Adaspur in Cuttack district, was also working part-time as a trainer at the gym, police said.
