Bhubaneswar: A young man was allegedly beaten to death and another critically injured in a brutal attack by a group of locals in broad daylight over claims of sexual assault bid on two women on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
According to police, the incident took place in Bhingarapur area under the jurisdiction of Balianta police station in the afternoon. It was alleged that the act was committed in the presence of police personnel and several onlookers.
Sources said the incident occurred after two youths on a motorcycle collided with a two-wheeler carrying two women near Ramachandrapur bridge. A heated argument broke out between the groups following the collision. The women later alleged that the youths misbehaved with them and attempted to sexually assault both.
As the women cried for help, locals rushed to the spot and overpowered the two youths. Eyewitnesses said the enraged crowd tied the hands and legs of the accused youths before subjecting them to a merciless thrashing in full view of the police. They used bamboo sticks and other objects also, inflicting the two critical injuries.
The injured youths were rushed to Capital Hospital in critical condition. One of them, identified as Soumya Ranjan Swain from Adaspur area, reportedly succumbed to his injuries. Swain was reportedly working as a constable with the Government Railway Police (GRP). The other youth, Om Prakash Rout, remains in critical condition and is undergoing treatment. Police have recorded Rout’s statement.
A relative of the deceased questioned how a group could kill someone in broad daylight over alleged misbehaviour, suggesting that there could be other underlying reasons behind the incident that require thorough investigation.
Shattered and shocked over the tragic incident, mother of the deceased alleged that her son was murdered in a conspiracy.
A murder case has been registered at the Balianta police station, and an investigation is underway. Preliminary investigation have not indicated any previous enmity between the two sides involved in the entire episode, a senior police officer said.
Police said the two women have filed a written complaint at the police station. As per the complaint, the youths allegedly tried to run the motorcycle over them and misbehaved with them. The women had also dialled the emergency helpline 112 and alerted locals during the incident.
Investigation is in progress, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.
The incident has triggered sharp reactions from opposition political parties with Biju Janata Dal (BJD) mounting a scathing attack on the BJP government and alleged that the rule of law has collapsed in the state.
Terming the incident as unfortunate, BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Lenin Mohanty and spokesperson Tumbanath Panda told reporters that such rising heinous crimes and murder incidents witnessed across the state during the past one week had never been seen before.
They alleged that after the BJP government came to power, Odisha is being criticised across the country due to the incompetence of the Home department. Mohanty stated the people of Odisha are feeling increasingly insecure because of the growing incidents of violence occurring every day in the peace-loving state.
While the brutal murder of a pregnant woman in broad daylight at Hinjili and the attempt to murder a youth by running a vehicle over him at Kanas had already disturbed everyone, today’s incident has further shattered public confidence in the police and administrative system.
Panda stated that the publicity-driven government has become completely insensitive towards maintaining the rule of law, the consequences of which are being suffered daily by the people of the state. Due to the government’s inefficiency, violent incidents are increasing at an alarming rate in the state, he claimed.
Before the situation slips completely out of control, the double engine government must take immediate steps to curb violence in the state, the BJD leaders said.
