5-day NHRC probe into railway constable lynching from today

Bhubaneswar: A two-member team from National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) from Delhi will launch a five-day investigation starting Monday into the recent lynching of a railway constable on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.The NHRC took suo motu cognisance on May 11 of the death of Soumya Ranjan Swain (32), who was tied to a pole and brutally assaulted by a mob at Balianta on May 7 following allegations that he attempted to rape a 22-year-old woman. The lynching, however, triggered an outrage as it took place in the presence of some police personnel.“The NHRC team comprising Rajendra Singh and Avinash Kumar will visit Odisha from June 1 to 5 to conduct a spot inquiry into the allegations of lynching in the presence of police personnel, and the alleged misuse of subordinate police staff for domestic work by senior officers,” the commission stated on Sunday in a letter to the police commissioner, Khurda collector, SP and railway SP.The NHRC has sought the presence of the officers and civilians linked to the incident during its investigation. The team will examine them at the govt guest house or circuit house in Bhubaneswar. The commission has also directed the state govt to produce all relevant documents related to the case.Swain’s family members said they would present all facts before the NHRC. “We hope the NHRC conducts a fair probe, and recommends strict action against those responsible,” said Swain’s uncle Ajay Kumar Dash.

The bereaved family has been demanding action against the police commissioner and deputy commissioner, as well as registration of an FIR against then Balianta IIC Anil Parida, who was transferred, and four police personnel, who were suspended on May 10.On Saturday, the family staged a demonstration at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar, expressing dissatisfaction with the ongoing crime branch investigation. “We urge the govt to hand over the case to the CBI. My son’s death was a pre-planned murder. The girl made false accusations, and instigated the mob to kill my son. She should be booked for murder,” said Swain’s mother Kabita.Altogether, 17 men have so far been arrested in connection with the lynching. While the Balianta police previously made 11 arrests, crime branch later took six more into custody.