Bhubaneswar: Traces of anabolic-androgenic steroids and a suspected psychoactive stimulant were found in the blood of Government Railway Police (GRP) constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, who was brutally lynched by a mob in Balianta on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on May 7 after he allegedly attempted to sexually assault a young woman in broad daylight.
Crime Branch sources investigating the case revealed that Swain, 32, appeared to be in a hallucinatory or psychotic state during the incident. Officials cited postmortem and viscera reports showing significant levels of steroids and another substance known to alter perception, thoughts, and emotions. As a part-time fitness instructor and bodybuilder, he may have taken an overdose the previous night, sources suggested.
Doctors have explained that unsupervised use of such steroids can lead to severe side effects, including psychosis and hallucinations.
According to witness accounts, including a statement from Swain’s friend Om Prakash Rout, the former behaved violently. Swain spotted the 22-year-old woman riding pillion on a scooter with a friend, mistook her for another woman who had previously filed a sexual harassment complaint against him, and demanded the bike stop. When Rout did not comply, Swain allegedly grabbed his neck, causing their motorcycle to collide with the women’s scooter. He then reportedly snatched the woman’s chain, tore her clothes, and attempted to sexually abuse her before locals intervened.
The enraged crowd overpowered and beat Swain to death in the presence of police.
Four policemen have since been suspended for alleged laxity and inefficiency in responding to the situation, with the Crime Branch also probing police negligence. Meanwhile, arrests in the lynching case have risen to 12 with Crime Branch apprehending another suspect during late night raids. Balianata police had earlier nabbed 11.
Swain’s family, however, has rejected the drug allegations. His father, Dhusasana Swain, insisted his son was not a drug addict but had been mentally disturbed due to personal issues. His mother has also demanded justice, claiming prompt police action could have saved him.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission has directed Chief Secretary and DGP to submit a detailed report on this incident.
Oppn Protests
The Balianta incident has sparked widespread outrage and intensified political debate over law and order in Odisha.
On Monday, Congress workers staged a demonstration outside the Commissionerate Police office, citing the lynching alongside other recent violent crimes in areas like Kanas, Balipatna, Dhenkanal, Hinjili, and Nayagarh as evidence of a deteriorating situation.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das described the incidents as exposing an alarming decline in public safety.
BJD leaders, including spokesperson Lenin Mohanty and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal president Ipsita Sahu, echoed concerns, pointing to heinous crimes across multiple districts in the past 10 days. They announced plans to gherao Superintendent of Police offices in Nayagarh, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Ganjam, and Dhenkanal on May 14.
Locals in Balianta, on the other hand, took out a candlelight rally on Monday evening, seeking justice for Swain while urging authorities to ensure appropriate legal action.
