Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough in the daylight murder of a GRP constable in Balianta on Bhubaneswar outskirts, the Odisha Crime Branch on Tuesday nabbed two main accused in the sensational case.
The accused persons, identified as Panchanan Badjena alias Kalia and Ranjit Rana, were arrested from the Ranpur forest area in Nayagarh district following a coordinated operation by the CID-Crime Branch, police sources said.
With this, the total number of accused apprehended in the sensational case has risen to 15. Of them, 11 persons had earlier been arrested by the local police.
Notably, GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain was allegedly assaulted and murdered by a mob on May 7 in Balianta Police Station area. Subsequently, the CID-Crime Branch took over the investigation from the local police following directions from the state government.
Evidence collected during the investigation established the involvement of the two accused in assaulting the deceased, according to Crime Branch officials.
A case has been registered at the CID-Crime Branch police station under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, arising out of Balianta police station Case No. 221 of 2026 dated May 9.
The Crime Branch said the investigation is continuing on a priority basis and efforts are underway to apprehend others involved in the incident.
Crime Branch DG Vinaytosh Mishra had earlier said that all the accused involved in the murder case had been identified.
