The recent death of railway constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, 32, in a mob lynching has struck his family at their most vulnerable moment. Already scarred by the loss of their younger daughter in 2019, the grieving parents now see their fate as a cruel curse — both of their only children dying in tragedies.
A Family's Double Tragedy
“Fate ordained the worst for us. No parent should ever wish to witness their children’s death before their own. We lost our daughter Suryarasmi, 20, in 2019. Now, we have lost our son,” said a wailing Dhusasana, a farmer by profession at Maujapur-Adaspur in Cuttack district.
Suryarasmi was married for just 10 months when she was found hanging in her in-laws’ house at a village in Cuttack district. “My elder brother Prasanna died, and I asked my daughter to come home for the cremation. Later that evening, we heard the tragic news of her death. Police claimed she took her own life due to marital discord,” he recalled.
Another Blow in 2021
The family had barely begun to recover when another blow struck in 2021 — Soumya was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman under the pretext of marriage. “My son was deeply traumatised after that incident. He turned to fitness, built his body and eventually opened a gym in partnership with a senior IPS officer in our locality,” Dhusasana said.
With life seemingly back on track, the family started searching for a bride for Soumya. But destiny had other plans. “Our world has collapsed after losing our son. Even though the police department and philanthropists are offering us money, we are rejecting it. What use is money when both our children are gone?” said Kabita, his grieving mother.
Impact on the Community
Soumya’s death also shocked the local youth who frequented his gym. “He always encouraged us to stay fit. Gyms usually come up in urban areas, but he brought the fitness culture to our rural community,” said Basanta Guru, a member of the gym, which now stands locked.
Soumya was beaten to death by a mob in Balianta area on May 7 after a woman alleged that he attempted to rape her in broad daylight.
