Bhubaneswar, June 2: The Crime Branch has arrested another accused in the sensational murder case of Balianta GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, taking the total number of arrests to 18.
The latest accused, identified as Pradeep Mangaraj alias Dipu, is believed to be one of the prime suspects in the case. A resident of Benupur village under Balianta, Pradeep had been absconding since the incident. He was apprehended from Dhenkanal on Monday, Crime Branch officials said.
Meanwhile, a four-member team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has arrived in Odisha to conduct an independent inquiry into the custodial death case. The team will remain in the state till June 5. On Monday, NHRC officials visited Soumya’s family, interacted with them, gathered details regarding the incident, and assured them that justice would be delivered. The team also expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
Soumya Ranjan Swain was allegedly beaten to death in Balianta on May 7 following a dispute involving a young woman. The incident triggered widespread outrage, prompting the state government to hand over the investigation to the Crime Branch.
The agency has so far arrested 18 accused in connection with the case. According to the DIG, around 10 more persons have been identified for their alleged involvement in the mob assault. The Crime Branch’s technical wing is examining video footage and relying on local intelligence inputs to trace the remaining accused.
Officials said efforts are underway to arrest the other suspects at the earliest and bring all those involved to justice.
