Bhubaneswar, June 4: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has intensified its investigation into the death of Balianta resident Soumya Ranjan Swain, with its inquiry team continuing questioning for the fourth consecutive day.
In a key development, Soumya's girlfriend appeared before the NHRC camp court on Thursday and was questioned by officials. Sources said investigators are hopeful that her statement could help unravel crucial aspects of the case. While it remains unclear whether she has direct knowledge of the incident, officials believe her testimony may provide fresh leads.
The NHRC team also questioned Zone-IV ACP Abhimanyu Nayak in connection with the case. Crime Branch DSP Ratnaprabha Satapathy, who is currently heading the investigation into Soumya's death, also appeared before the camp court.
On the third day of the inquiry, the NHRC team interrogated six individuals, including Soumya's friend Om Prakash Rout, two women who had levelled allegations of misconduct against Soumya, and a mini-truck driver who transported him to hospital after the incident.
The truck driver reportedly provided crucial details regarding the events that unfolded between the alleged crime scene and the hospital. He told investigators that while driving an empty truck along the Hanspal-Nimapada road, he noticed a crowd near Balianta and slowed down. According to his statement, a police officer stopped him and instructed him to transport an injured youth to the hospital.
The driver claimed that several individuals lifted Soumya into the truck's cargo bed. While a plainclothes police officer accompanied him in the front seat, no police personnel travelled in the rear section of the vehicle. He further alleged that six to seven youths remained with Soumya in the truck bed and continued assaulting him during the journey to the hospital. Two police vehicles reportedly escorted the truck from the front and rear.
The NHRC is also examining what exactly transpired at the scene on the day of the incident, including how the altercation began and who was responsible for triggering it. Investigators conducted detailed questioning of the two women who accused Soumya of misconduct and his friend Om Prakash Rout. The three were reportedly questioned face-to-face as part of efforts to verify their statements.
The NHRC team has already questioned police personnel who were present at the residence of a senior IPS officer that has come under scrutiny during the investigation. The probe is continuing as the commission seeks to establish the circumstances surrounding Soumya Ranjan Swain's death and determine accountability.
