Bhubaneswar, May 26 (IANS) The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has arrested another accused allegedly involved in the brutal mob lynching of Government Railway Police (GRP) constable Soumya Ranjan Swain on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar in Balianta on May 7.

The accused, Binod Kumar Behera (48), is a resident of the Satya Nagar area of Bhubaneswar. The Crime Branch sources on Tuesday informed that, based on substantial evidence collected during the course of investigation, the sleuths arrested Behera, one of the main accused, on May 25 night from Indupur in Kendrapara district.

“Investigation has revealed the involvement of the accused persons in assaulting the deceased. So far, a total of 16 accused persons have been arrested in connection with the case,” said the Crime Branch.

Notably, of the total arrested persons in the case, 11 accused were earlier arrested by the Balianta Police. The Crime Branch also stated that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other persons involved in the ghastly incident.

Speaking to media persons, Crime Branch IG Sarthak Sarangi said the agency has identified the accused persons from the viral video of the incident. He added that around 8 to 10 accused persons allegedly involved in the case are still absconding.

On May 7, the railway constable, Soumya, was beaten to death by a mob of villagers over allegations of sexual assault on a girl in the Balianta area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Soumya, along with his friend Om Prakash, was travelling towards Bhubaneswar when they came across two girls riding a scooter in the Bhingarpur-Kaja area under the Balianta police limits.

An alleged collision between their motorcycle and the girls’ scooter sparked an argument. One of the girls accused Soumya of attempting to sexually assault her, following which local villagers, alerted by her screams for help, rushed to the spot and assaulted the duo. Police later rescued them and shifted them to the hospital, where doctors declared Soumya dead.

–IANS

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