Bhubaneswar: The number of arrests in the daylight murder case of a Government Railway Police (GRP) constable by a mob in Balianta on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar mounted to eleven on Saturday.
While the police had arrested five persons earlier, six other suspects were taken into custody in the mob lynching case. With this, altogether eleven persons have so far been arrested in connection with the sensational incident, police sources said.
A massive manhunt has been launched by the police based on CCTV footage and are raids are being conducted at multiple locations to nab the remaining accused in connection with the incident that took place on Thursday.
Locals claimed that the brutal incident has triggered widespread fear among residents of the surrounding villages, with many men fleeing their homes to evade arrest and police action.
It may be noted that the incident occurred when a large group of men from Benupur village and nearby areas allegedly thrashed GRP constable Saumya Ranjan Swain to death after he was accused of misbehaving with two women on the road.
Even as police stepped up the drive to apprehend the accused persons, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan asserted that the guilty would face stringent punishment. The government and law enforcement agencies would adopt s a tougher approach towards criminal activities, he said.
Those responsible for the brutal crime would face the consequences of their actions and would be punished as per the law, the Minister said. “The accused will get the punishment they deserve. Those who have committed the crime will certainly face the consequences of their deeds,” he said.
The Minister further stated that the government has adopted a tough stance against criminals and is closely monitoring law and order situation in the state. Daily reports are being sought from law enforcement agencies to ensure prompt action, he said.
The Minister also assured that the government is taking all necessary steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased constable rejected the allegation of misbehaviour as false and fabricated. They have demanded a polygraph (lie detector) test of the two girls involved.
Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania and the Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission visited the crime spot on Friday and took stock of the situation.
Tension prevailed in Swain’s village when his body reached there. Locals blocked the road, staged a protest and held the police responsible for the incident.
