Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday ordered a Crime Branch investigation into the brutal mob lynching of railway constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, which occurred on Thursday in the Balianta area. Swain was tied to a pole and beaten mercilessly in full public view after being accused of sexually harassing a woman on a busy road.
Chief Minister's Directive
Reviewing the state's law and order situation in the wake of the barbaric killing, Majhi expressed deep anger and directed Director General of Police Y B Khurania to ensure such incidents never recur. Sources revealed that the chief minister also reprimanded senior officers of the commissionerate police for their alleged mishandling of the situation. A statement from the Chief Minister's Office said, "The chief minister instructed the police to take the toughest possible measures to uphold the rule of law in the state."
Arrests and Ongoing Raids
The review came amid sharp criticism from opposition parties over a surge in heinous crimes in recent weeks. It coincided with police arresting six more individuals in connection with the lynching, bringing the total number of arrests to 11. A senior officer confirmed, "The arrest count will rise as raids are underway at multiple locations."
Village Protests and Family's Outrage
Meanwhile, Swain's fellow villagers staged a road blockade on the Adaspur-Niali stretch, demanding action against police officials who allegedly failed to prevent the violence despite being present at the scene. His father, Dhusasana Swain, voiced anger over the lack of accountability: "At least three uniformed officers and two in plainclothes reached. They did little to save him. Senior officers failed to grasp the gravity of the situation and did not issue directions. They must face action for their inaction."
Allegations of Police Complicity
Swain's friend Om Prakash Patra, who witnessed the attack, alleged that a plainclothes officer even joined the mob in assaulting Swain. Police have denied the claim, stating: "None of our staff assaulted the victim. Our control room team rescued him and rushed him to hospital, where he was declared dead." Despite widespread outrage over alleged police inaction, Deputy Commissioner of Police Jagmohan Meena praised the force's efforts on Thursday, drawing sharp criticism and trolling on social media.
Political Reactions
Opposition parties Biju Janata Dal and Congress continued to slam the government, citing deteriorating law and order. In response, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said, "The government is committed to ensuring all culprits are arrested and measures are being taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents."
