Bhubaneswar: During a high-level meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered a Crime Branch probe into the recent mob lynching incident reported from the Balianta area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

The direction was issued during the high-level meeting under the Chief Minister’s chairmanship today. Following a detailed review of the incident, Majhi instructed the Crime Branch to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation and take stringent action against those found guilty.

Emphasising the need to prevent such incidents in the future, the Chief Minister directed Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania to remain vigilant and ensure strict monitoring of law and order across the state.

He further stressed the police must take the strongest possible measures to uphold the rule of law and maintain public confidence.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Chief Minister’s Advisor Prakash Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma, DGP Y.B. Khurania, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Shashwat Mishra, Intelligence Director R.P. Koche, ADG (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar, ADG Crime Branch Vinaytosh Mishra, Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, and DCP Jagmohan Meena.

Meanwhile, the number of arrests in the Balianta mob lynching case has risen to 11, with the Commissionerate Police apprehending six more individuals on Saturday.

Earlier, five persons had been arrested in connection with the incident in which 32-year-old GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain was killed on May 7 near Ramachandrapur in the Balianta area.