Arrests rise to 11 in Odisha mob lynching case

The number of arrests in Odisha’s alleged lynching case has risen to 11 even as a key eyewitness has leveled serious allegations alleging that the attack took place in the presence of the police.

The incident took place on May 7 under Balianta police station limits on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, when 32-year-old railway constable Soumya Ranjan Swain was beaten to death by a mob. He was accused of attempting to rape a woman in broad daylight on a busy road.

Soumya died from her injuries. Doctors at Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar declared him dead. The incident sparked widespread outrage, with political parties voicing concerns over mob justice and breakdown of law and order.

Om Prakash, who was with the deceased at the time, gave a different account of the events.

In his statement to the media on Saturday, May 9, 2026, he said, “While traveling on a motorcycle around 11 am, Soumya lost control of the bike and crashed into a two-wheeler carrying two women. I think she might have had a seizure at that moment. It is true that she slapped one of the women after she fell, but it is not right to say that she attempted to rape.”

According to Om Prakash, the police team reached the spot within 15 minutes. However, locals had dragged Soumya to an agricultural field about 500 meters away from the main road connecting Binjharpur to NH-16, where she was allegedly attacked.

However, the woman involved claimed that she believed the police officer attempted to sexually assault her.

Meanwhile, family members of the deceased questioned the claim and stated that it was “beyond imagination” that someone would attempt rape on a busy road in broad daylight and in full view of the public.

“The woman who made the complaint needs to undergo a lie detector test. The police should also investigate this barbaric incident with the utmost seriousness,” a family member said.

BJD flagged ‘breakdown of law and order’

As the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) steps up its attack on allegations of breakdown of law and order in Odisha, the party has sought clarification on the Additional Director General of Police’s involvement in the gym business.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, BJD leader Lekhashree Samantsinghar said, “According to Soumya’s mother’s allegations, her son was working as a trainer in the gym of a police ADG. The ADG reportedly had gym businesses at various places in Bhubaneswar. Besides, he also had a truck business. Was the Director General of Police unaware of these facts? If he continues to serve police officers, it is natural that law and order will collapse in the state.” (May 9, 2026).

He pointed out that in the same Balianta area, a young man was beaten to death with stones for just over ₹20,000. However, the police have so far failed to arrest the main accused involved in all these crimes; This clearly shows that these criminals are operating under the political protection of the government.

The State Government has directed the Crime Branch to investigate the case.