4 cops suspended, IIC shunted for inaction during rly constable’s lynching

Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt on Sunday suspended a sub-inspector, an assistant sub-inspector and two constables while also shunting the inspector-in-charge of Balianta police station for alleged inaction while a mob beat a railway constable to death in the presence of police on the city’s outskirts on May 7.The disciplinary measures followed a day after chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed anger at the police’s mishandling of the incident, in which the constable was tied to a pole and brutally beaten to death in full public view following allegations that he had tried to sexually abuse a woman on the road. The chief minister had also handed over the investigation to the crime branch.“One SI, one ASI and two constables, who were present during the mob lynching incident, have been placed under suspension. We have also sent a proposal to discontinue the services of two home guards, who too were present during the incident. Balianta IIC Anil Kumar Parida has been shunted to Bhubaneswar urban police district headquarters. Rashmita Behera has been posted as Balianta IIC,” a senior govt official said.Although police have so far arrested 11 men in connection with the lynching, they faced sharp criticism for alleged inaction. Only three or four constables were deployed to confront a mob of 70-80 armed with sticks and iron rods, while senior officers failed to intervene. The outnumbered constables were unable to prevent Swain from being tied to a pole and beaten to death.On Sunday, the crime branch formally took over the investigation. An eight-member team led by DSP Ratnaprava Satapathy collected case records from Balianta police station and inspected the crime scene. SP Anirudha Routray will supervise the probe.“We have taken over both cases — the sexual assault allegation against Swain, and his murder. Allegations of police negligence will also be examined,” DIG (crime branch) B Gangadhar told reporters.Swain’s family welcomed the crime branch probe and suspension of four personnel, but demanded accountability from senior officers. “Only lower-rung staff faced action, while seniors who failed to intervene have escaped,” said his father, Dhusasana Swain.The crime branch indicated it may seek custodial interrogation of suspects. “If required, we will apply for remand to reconstruct the sequence of events and identify the absconding accused. Statements of all linked to the two cases will be recorded. We are also awaiting the post-mortem and viscera reports,” Gangadhar said.