The state crime branch on Thursday arrested the prime accused in the brutal mob lynching of railway constable Soumya Ranjan Swain in Balianta on May 7, a case that has triggered widespread outrage across Odisha.
Arrest of the Prime Accused
The accused, identified as Ranjit Patra, 24, a land broker from Gangeswargada under Cuttack Sadar police limits, was captured from an undisclosed location in Bhubaneswar after investigators traced his role through video evidence.
Footage revealed Patra striking Swain's head with a bamboo stick after the constable was immobilised by the mob, his hands and feet tied with ropes. A post-mortem confirmed that Swain succumbed to severe internal head injuries. Swain was attacked by the mob following his alleged rape attempt on a woman on the road.
Investigation Progress
“We have found substantial evidence against Patra, whose assault proved fatal. Several other key culprits remain absconding, and efforts are on to track and arrest them,” a senior crime branch officer said.
So far, 13 men have been arrested in connection with the case. Eleven were nabbed by Balianta police, while two, including Patra, were taken into custody by the crime branch, which took charge of the investigation from the local police on May 9.
Political Reactions
The incident, which unfolded in broad daylight and in the presence of police personnel, has drawn sharp criticism of law enforcement. Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi reprimanded the commissionerate police for failing to contain the mob violence, indicating the episode was a grave lapse in policing.
As the Balianta lynching has become a flashpoint in the state's political discourse, opposition BJD on Thursday staged a gherao at the office of the DGP in Cuttack, accusing the govt of failing to uphold law and order. “The Balianta lynching reflects the deteriorating security situation in the state,” the agitating BJD members alleged.
The ruling BJP hit back, highlighting swift arrests and a zero-tolerance approach to crime. “Criminals had a free run during the BJD regime. Under the current govt, culprits are being arrested within 24 to 48 hours. The chief minister himself is closely monitoring law and order,” BJP spokesperson Manoj Mohapatra said.
