Odisha Crime Branch arrests 16th accused in GRP Constable Soumya Swain lynching
Synopsis
Sixteen people are now in custody for the mob killing of GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain in Balianta on 7 May — but 8 to 10 suspects remain at large. Investigators say a viral video of the attack is driving identifications, making this one of the rare lynching cases where digital evidence is directly shaping the arrest trail.
Key Takeaways
Crime Branch of Odisha Police arrested its 16th accused , Binod Kumar Behera (48) , on the night of 25 May from Indupur, Kendrapara district .
GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain was beaten to death by a mob in Balianta, Bhubaneswar on 7 May over an alleged sexual assault accusation.
Of the 16 arrested, 11 were initially held by Balianta Police ; the Crime Branch subsequently arrested five more.
Crime Branch IG Sarthak Sarangi confirmed that a viral video of the incident is being used to identify suspects.
8 to 10 accused persons allegedly involved in the lynching remain absconding.
The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has arrested a 16th accused in connection with the mob lynching of Government Railway Police (GRP) constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, who was beaten to death by villagers in the Balianta area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on 7 May. The latest arrest was made on the night of 25 May, bringing the total number of persons in custody to 16.
Latest Arrest
The newly arrested accused has been identified as Binod Kumar Behera, 48, a resident of the Satya Nagar area of Bhubaneswar. According to Crime Branch sources, Behera — described as one of the main accused — was apprehended from Indupur in Kendrapara district based on substantial evidence gathered during the investigation. Of the 16 persons now in custody, 11 were earlier arrested by the Balianta Police, with the Crime Branch taking over and adding five more.
What Investigators Said
Crime Branch Inspector General Sarthak Sarangi told reporters that the agency identified accused persons from a viral video of the incident that circulated widely after the attack. He confirmed that 8 to 10 suspects allegedly involved in the case remain at large, and that efforts are underway to trace and apprehend them. 'Investigation has revealed the involvement of the accused persons in assaulting the deceased,' the Crime Branch said in an official statement.
What Happened on 7 May
Constable Soumya Ranjan Swain was travelling towards Bhubaneswar with his friend Om Prakash when their motorcycle was involved in an alleged collision with a scooter carrying two girls in the Bhingarpur-Kaja area under Balianta police limits. One of the girls accused Swain of attempting to sexually assault her. Local villagers, alerted by her screams, rushed to the spot and assaulted both men. Police subsequently rescued them and transported them to hospital, where Swain was declared dead. Om Prakash survived.
Investigation Status and What Comes Next
The Crime Branch has indicated the probe is ongoing, with the viral video serving as a key evidentiary tool to identify participants in the mob. The agency has not disclosed a timeline for completing the investigation or filing a chargesheet. With 8 to 10 suspects still absconding, further arrests are expected. The case has drawn significant attention in Odisha, raising broader questions about mob justice and the safety of law enforcement personnel.
Point of View
The pace of arrests raises questions about whether the accused are receiving community cover. The broader issue — a uniformed officer killed on the basis of an unverified allegation — demands scrutiny of the mob's decision-making chain, not just its individual members.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Soumya Ranjan Swain and what happened to him?
Soumya Ranjan Swain was a Government Railway Police (GRP) constable who was beaten to death by a mob of villagers in the Balianta area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on 7 May. He was travelling with a friend when a road altercation led to a sexual assault allegation against him, after which local villagers assaulted both men; Swain died in hospital.
How many people have been arrested in the Balianta lynching case so far?
A total of 16 people have been arrested as of 25 May, including 11 initially held by Balianta Police and five more by the Crime Branch. The latest arrest is Binod Kumar Behera, 48, picked up from Indupur in Kendrapara district.
Who is Binod Kumar Behera and why was he arrested?
Binod Kumar Behera, 48, a resident of Satya Nagar in Bhubaneswar, is described by the Crime Branch as one of the main accused in the lynching. He was arrested on the night of 25 May from Indupur in Kendrapara district based on substantial evidence collected during the investigation.
How many suspects are still absconding in the case?
Crime Branch IG Sarthak Sarangi has confirmed that approximately 8 to 10 accused persons allegedly involved in the lynching are still at large. The agency says it is actively working to identify and apprehend them.
How is the Crime Branch identifying the accused?
According to Crime Branch IG Sarthak Sarangi, investigators are using a viral video of the incident to identify individuals who participated in the mob attack. The video has been a key evidentiary tool driving the ongoing arrests.
