Bhubaneswar, May 7 (IANS) In a shocking incident of mob lynching, a police constable was beaten to death following a road mishap and allegations of sexually abusing a girl on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar under the Balianta police limits on Thursday.

The deceased was identified as Soumya Ranjan Swain, 32, of the Adashpur area in Cuttack district. Swain was working as a constable in the Government Railway Police (GRP) branch of Odisha Police.

According to the deceased’s family members, Soumya, who had earlier been placed under suspension, was recently reinstated by the police.

Local sources said Swain, along with his friend Om Prakash Rout, was coming towards Bhubaneswar when they came across two girls travelling on a scooter. While overtaking the vehicle, the deceased’s motorcycle hit the scooter of the girls, reportedly ensuing in a heated argument near a bridge at Ramachandrapur under Balianta police limits. Meanwhile, the local villagers rushed to the spot to help the girls, who reportedly belong to a nearby village.

They later brutally assaulted the deceased and his friend by tying their hands and legs with a rope. Upon being informed, the police team reached their destination and rescued the duo and rushed them to Capital hospital, where Swain was declared dead.

Speaking to media persons, Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena said, “Three parties are involved in the case. First, the two girls are travelling on a scooter. Second, the two youths who initially saw them later overtook them and, after making a U-turn, rammed their vehicle into the scooter. The third party comprises local villagers who rushed to the spot to save the girls and assaulted one of the youths, who subsequently died.”

He also added that the police managed to elicit vital details during the interrogation of the deceased’s friend, Om Prakash Patra. DCP Meena further informed that one of the girls involved in the case has lodged an FIR against the deceased, alleging an attempt to rape. He said police have also recorded the statement of the girl.

The people involved in the lynching are being identified from videos available to the police. The DCP said that legal actions will be taken against people found to be involved in the lynching of the youth.

–IANS

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