Bhubaneswar, June 4: The probe into the death of constable Soumya Ranjan Swain intensified on the third day as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team questioned six persons, including Soumya's friend Om Prakash Raut, two women complainants and a mini-truck driver.
During questioning, the truck driver reportedly made significant claims regarding the events that unfolded between the alleged assault site at Balianta and the hospital. He told investigators that while travelling from Kakatpur towards Mancheswar with an empty truck, he noticed a crowd near Balianta and slowed down. According to him, a police officer stopped the vehicle and directed him to transport an injured youth to the hospital.
The driver alleged that several people loaded Soumya onto the truck and that no police personnel accompanied him in the rear compartment. Instead, a plainclothes officer sat in the front cabin while police vehicles escorted the truck from both front and rear. He further claimed that six to seven youths travelled with Soumya in the truck's rear compartment and allegedly assaulted him throughout the journey.
As part of the investigation, the NHRC team also conducted detailed questioning of the two women who had accused Soumya of misconduct and his friend Om Prakash Raut. Investigators sought to ascertain the sequence of events that led to the altercation and examined conflicting versions presented by both sides.
Sources said the NHRC officials questioned the complainants and Om Prakash face-to-face to verify allegations surrounding the incident. The team is also examining whether Soumya's actions on the day of the incident were linked to a medical condition, as claimed by some witnesses.
Dr. Laxmidhar Behera, who conducted the post-mortem examination, also appeared before the NHRC team and explained the medical findings related to Soumya's death.
The NHRC has already conducted a spot investigation at Balianta and questioned police personnel associated with the case. A senior IPS officer whose name has surfaced during the probe is expected to appear before the commission's team for questioning. The officer is likely to present his version regarding allegations of harassment levelled against him.
Police Commissioner Dr. Dev Datta Singh and DCP Jagmohan Meena may also appear before the NHRC team as the investigation continues.
