Bhubaneswar, May 10 (IANS) The Odisha Crime Branch on Sunday began probing the shocking mob lynching of a Government Railway Police (GRP) constable on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on May 7, after registering two separate cases in connection with the incident.

The Crime Branch took over the investigation into the two cases registered at Balianta Police in Bhubaneswar following instructions from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday.

“Considering the sensitiveness of the cases registered over alleged sexual assault to the victim in public view and subsequent death of one Soumya Ranjan Swain by the mob, CID Crime Branch, Odisha, Cuttack take full control over the investigation Balianta PS Case No. 220/2026 and 221/2026 by the order of the DGP, Odisha,” informed the Crime Branch in a press note on Sunday.

It also added that the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ratnaprava Satapahty, has been deputed by the CID Crime Branch for the investigation of the case. The investigation commenced under the direct supervision of Anirudha Routray, Superintendent of Police, CID Crime Branch, for clarity and fairness of the probe.

Notably, two cases were registered at Balianta Police immediately after the incident, one related to the mob lynching of Soumya and the other based on a complaint lodged by one of the girls, who accused the deceased of a sexual assault bid.

The Investigating Officer currently entrusted with the task to probe the case is likely to hand over all the case records so far, statements of persons involved in these cases, including the victim girls, the deceased’s friend Om Prakash Rout, and villagers. A senior Crime Branch official told media persons that the Crime Branch will also examine the cops of the PCR Van who first reached the spot to ascertain their role and any negligence in duty.

On Thursday, the GRP constable, Soumya Ranjan Swain, was beaten to death by a mob of villagers over allegations of sexual assault on two girls in the Balianta area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Notably, Soumya, along with his friend Om Prakash, was travelling towards Bhubaneswar when they came across two girls riding a scooter near Ramachandrapur bridge under Balianta police limits.

A collision between their motorcycle and the scooter of the girls led to 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.

The police have so far arrested 11 persons for their alleged involvement in the brutal mob lynching of the GRP constable Soumya.

–IANS

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