Bhubaneswar: Bhawani Shankar Udgata, Railway Superintendent of Police (SP), Cuttack, on Friday said a separate case had been pending against deceased GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, who was killed in the alleged mob lynching incident in the Balianta area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on May 7.

Speaking on the matter, the SP said Soumya had joined the GRP as a constable in 2014 and had remained absent from duty since April 25 this year. He added that Swain’s salary had earlier been stopped due to his repeated absence from work.

Udgata said that a case had also been registered against Soumya at Cuttack Mahila police station in 2021.

According to reports, Swain had earlier been arrested and sent to jail over allegations of cheating a woman after promising marriage and maintaining a physical relationship with her.

The development comes amid an ongoing investigation into the death of the 32-year-old constable near Ramachandrapur in the Balianta area. The matter pertains to the alleged mob lynching of Soumya after he sexually assaulted two women.

Earlier in the day, the victim woman alleged that she and her friend were assaulted by two motorcycle-borne men before locals intervened and rescued them. She claimed the accused first passed objectionable comments at them while they were travelling on a scooter and later rammed their vehicle deliberately, causing them to fall on the road.

The woman alleged that after the fall, one of the accused assaulted her, hit her on the head, strangled her and tore her dress. She further claimed that the accused repeatedly tried to drag her into a room.

According to the victim, locals rushed to the spot and rescued them. She appealed to the police to release those arrested in connection with the mob attack, saying the locals were not at fault.

Police said Soumya and his associate Om Prakash Rout were later attacked by a mob after the alleged incident. Videos of the assault, which circulated widely on social media, showed Soumya tied to an iron bar and being beaten by a group of people.

He was initially taken to Balakati Community Health Centre and later shifted to Capital Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Om Prakash Rout was rescued by police personnel and is currently under detention.

Based on the complaint filed by the two women, police have registered a case of attempt to rape under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A separate murder case has also been registered in connection with the mob lynching.

Meanwhile, Odisha State Commission for Women Chairperson Shovana Mohanty visited the incident site and said an impartial probe would be conducted. She said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had directed authorities to ensure strict action against those found guilty.

Odisha DGP Y. B. Khurania and Jagmohan Meena also visited the spot to review the investigation.

Police have detained four persons so far in connection with the lynching and are continuing raids to identify others involved using video footage and evidence collected from the scene.