Shocking Lynching of Police Constable in Bhubaneswar After Road Accident

Bhubaneswar, May 8: A tragic incident unfolded in the Balianta police station area on Thursday, where a police constable was brutally lynched following a road accident and allegations of sexual harassment against a girl.

The deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Soumya Ranjan Swain, a resident of the Adaspur area in Cuttack district. Swain was serving as a constable in the Government Railway Police (GRP) branch of Odisha Police.

According to family members, Swain had previously been suspended but was recently reinstated by the police.

Local sources reported that Swain was traveling towards Bhubaneswar with his friend, Om Prakash Raut, when they encountered two girls on a scooter. While attempting to overtake the vehicle, Swain’s motorcycle collided with the girls’ scooter, leading to a heated argument near a bridge in Ramachandrapur, within the Balianta police station jurisdiction. Villagers from a nearby area rushed to assist the girls.

Subsequently, the villagers tied up Swain and his friend and launched a brutal attack on them. Upon receiving the alert, the police arrived at the scene and rushed both men to Capital Hospital, where Swain was pronounced dead.

Speaking to reporters, Bhubaneswar’s DCP Jagmohan Meena stated that three parties were involved in the incident. The first involved the two girls traveling on the scooter, the second included the two young men who initially spotted them and later collided with their scooter, and the third consisted of local villagers who intervened to help the girls and attacked one of the young men, resulting in his death.

DCP Meena also mentioned that significant information was gathered during the interrogation of Swain’s friend, Om Prakash Patra. Furthermore, one of the girls has filed an FIR accusing Swain of attempted rape. The police have recorded her statement.

Authorities are currently identifying those involved in the lynching based on available video evidence. DCP Meena confirmed that legal action would be taken against anyone found complicit in the lynching.