In a significant development, Odisha Police arrested one more person on Friday, May 8, in connection with the mob lynching of a man accused of attempting to sexually assault two women in Khurda district. The total number of people apprehended in the case has now reached five.
Director General of Police YB Khurania, accompanied by Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena, visited the incident site under Balianta Police Station limits on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. State Commission for Women Chairperson Sobhna Mohanty also conducted an on-the-spot inquiry and met the victims.
The incident occurred on Thursday, May 7, when two men allegedly harassed and assaulted two women travelling on a scooter near Ramchandrapur bridge. According to one survivor, the men passed lewd remarks, hit their vehicle, and attacked them.
She lost consciousness after being hit on the head and later found herself wrapped in a towel with her dress torn. The other 22-year-old victim also suffered serious leg injuries. Locals gathered after hearing screams, forcing the attackers to flee into a nearby field.
A mob caught the two men and brutally attacked them. 32-year-old Government Railway Police constable Soumya Ranjan Swain was lynched, while his associate Om Prakash Rout (22) was critically injured.
Police registered a case of attempted rape against Swain based on the women’s complaint and a separate murder case for the lynching. Swain was previously suspended and had a 2021 case of allegedly harassing a woman.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over the incident and directed strict action against those involved in the lynching. He also asked the SCW to speak with the victims.
In a notable twist, both women requested the release of the five arrested individuals, stating they had saved their lives. They have been provided police security and necessary assistance. The body of the deceased was handed over to his family after postmortem.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com.
