Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), probing the brutal Balianta violence, on Wednesday questioned the two young women who had previously levelled allegations of molestation against the victim, GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain.
According to sources, the 22-year-old woman, reaffirmed the contents of her FIR while deposing before the two-member NHRC inquiry panel. She had alleged that their vehicle was struck by a motorcycle carrying two individuals on the morning of May 7. Following the collision, Swain, who was riding pillion, allegedly forcibly dragged her to the side of the road, tore her clothing, and attempted to sexually assault her in broad daylight. Her desperate cries for help alerted nearby residents, who rushed to the scene and rescued her. However, the situation rapidly escalated into vigilante justice.
A local resident told the panel the police seemed helpless. The statement of four police personnel — a sub-inspector, an assistant sub-inspector and two constables — who were suspended for negligence and failing to protect Swain, were also recorded.
Among others, who deposed before the commission, were Soumya’s friend, Om Prakash Rout, who was with him during the incident, former Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Balianta police station, Anil Kumar Parida, an ambulance driver, , Sugyan Mallick, and Dr Laxmidhar Behra from Capital Hospital, who conducted the postmortem.
Speaking to the media after his session with the commission, Dr Behra stated that the NHRC sought clarity regarding the specific findings of the autopsy report and the exact cause of death.
As Om Prakash exited the building under a tight police escort, he was immediately surrounded by reporters attempting to gain clarity on the case details. Visuals from the scene show a chaotic scramble as police personnel worked to move him safely through a dense crowd of cameramen and journalists. When asked continuously if he knew the woman being linked to the case, he explicitly denied any connection, stating to the media, “No, I do not know them”.
According to the ambulance driver, they received the initial distress call at 11:06 am on the morning of the incident (May 7). They arrived at the designated spot in Ramchandrapur at 11:34 am but found none. The driver further clarified that they attempted to contact the caller, who informed then that the victim had already been shifted in a truck.
When questioned about the unfolding mob violence, the driver noted that while a crowd had gathered near the bridge and internal roads, they remained unaware of the clash or the severity of the assault.
Sources further stated that the commission is focusing heavily on the timeline of the attack, specifically how a minor vehicle collision escalated into a violent confrontation, and how a mob managed to brutally beat Soumya to death in the presence of bystanders and police.
The NHRC team has already visited the crime scene and met Soumya’s grieving family to record their statements.
On May 30, family members of the GRP constable staged a protest and demanded a polygraph test of the two women, who had alleged that he had molested them, and also Om Prakash to elicit more information as he was present with him on the day of the incident. They questioned the motive behind not invoking specific sections of mob lynching under the BNS in connection with Soumya’s murder.
