Bhubaneswar, May 19: The brutal killing of constable Soumya Ranjan Swain in Balianta continues to unravel shocking details as the Crime Branch intensifies its probe.

On Tuesday, officials arrested two more suspects — Panchanan Badajena and Ranjit Rana — from a forest near Ranpur in Nayagarh district. With these arrests, the total number of accused taken into custody has risen to 15.

Earlier, 13 individuals, including prime accused Ranjit Patra, had already been apprehended. The Commissionerate Police initially arrested 11 villagers, before the Crime Branch took over the investigation.

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Subsequent arrests included Yudhisthir Jena alias Banti and another key suspect, Chinu. The probe is expected to lead to further arrests as investigators dig deeper into the conspiracy.

About the Incident

The incident dates back to May 7, when Soumya Ranjan Swain was lynched in broad daylight at Balianta, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

Despite police presence at the scene, the mob tied his hands and legs, hung him upside down, and beat him mercilessly with rods and sticks. The shocking brutality of the act sparked outrage across Odisha.

Swain, a railway constable, succumbed to severe internal injuries, as confirmed by the postmortem report.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over the incident and directed the Crime Branch to take charge of the investigation.

Odisha State Women’s Commission Chairperson Shovana Mohanty visited the site and met the victim’s family, who alleged that Swain’s companion was also harassed during the attack.

Police Role under Scrutiny

Questions have now emerged over the role of the police. Despite a nearby private hospital being just 9.2 km away, Swain was taken to Balakati Government Medical College, more than 18 km from the crime scene.

Doctors there revealed that he was brought in still bound, carried on a cot instead of a stretcher, and bleeding profusely. With no ECG facilities available, he was later shifted to Capital Hospital, but his life could not be saved.

Witnesses confirmed that four police officers were present during this time, raising suspicions about deliberate negligence.

The case has triggered widespread debate about police accountability and possible larger conspiracies behind the killing.

As the Crime Branch continues its investigation, Odisha awaits answers to whether this was simply mob violence — or part of a deeper plot.