The number of arrests in an alleged mob lynching case in Odisha has risen to 11, even as a key eyewitness has made serious allegations, claiming the attack took place in the presence of police.
The incident took place on May 7 under Balianta police station limits on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar when railway constable Soumya Ranjan Swain (32) was beaten to death by a mob. He was accused of trying to rape a woman on a busy road in broad daylight.
Soumya succumbed to her injuries. Doctors at Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar declared him brought dead. The incident sparked widespread outrage, with political parties expressing concern over mob justice and the breakdown of law and order.
Om Prakash, who was accompanying the deceased at the time, offered a different account of the events.
“When we were riding the motorcycle around 11:00 AM, Soumya lost control of the motorcycle and hit a two-wheeler carrying two women. I believe he might have had a seizure at that point. It is true that he slapped one of the women after she fell, but it is not correct to say that he attempted rape,” he told the media on Saturday (May 9, 2026).
According to Om Prakash, the police team reached the spot within 15 minutes. But locals had already dragged Soumya to an agricultural field about 500 meters from the main road connecting Binjharpur with NH-16, where he was allegedly ambushed.
However, the woman involved in the incident claimed she believed the officer was trying to sexually assault her.
Meanwhile, family members of the deceased disputed the allegation, saying it was “beyond imagination” that anyone would attempt rape on a busy road in broad daylight and in full public view.
“The woman who filed the complaint should undergo a polygraph test. The police must also investigate this barbaric incident with utmost seriousness,” said a family member.
BJD reports ‘deterioration of rule of law’
As the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) escalated its attack on the alleged deterioration of law and order in Odisha, the party sought clarification on the involvement of another director general of police in the gym business.
“According to Soumya’s mother’s allegations, her son was working as a trainer in the police ADG’s gym. The ADG allegedly had gyms at several locations across Bhubaneswar. Besides, he also had a truck business. Was the Director General of Police not aware of these facts? If serving police officers remain involved in business activities,” Lhrehas State BJJDhar told Lhreehas law and order in Sam. press conference on Saturday (May 9, 2026).
She pointed out that in the same Balianta area, a young man was stoned to death for just ₹20,000. However, the police have so far failed to arrest the main accused involved in all these crimes, which they say clearly shows that these criminals were acting under the political protection of the government.
The state government ordered the crime police to investigate the case.
Published – 9 May 2026 10:00 PM IST
