Bhubaneswar, May 7 (IANS). Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi on Thursday expressed deep grief over the killing of a youth by a furious mob in Balianta on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. He directed the police to take strict action against the culprits involved in this heinous crime.
According to an official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Majhi spoke to Odisha Police Director General YB Khurania and directed him to thoroughly investigate the matter and take strict action against the culprits.
The Chief Minister advised the police administration and police force to remain alert so that such incidents of lynching by mobs do not happen again in future.
He directed the police to take strictest action to maintain law and order in the state. Police have so far arrested four people in connection with the incident and the investigation is ongoing.
The Chief Minister’s Office said that the Chief Minister also discussed this incident with Odisha State Women Commission Chairperson Sovana Mohanty.
Meanwhile, Speaker Mohanty is likely to visit Balianta on Friday and talk to the women who have accused the deceased Soumya Ranjan Swain of sexual harassment. Their objective is to find out the truth taking into account all aspects of the incident.
It is noteworthy that deceased Swain was coming towards Bhubaneswar with his friend Om Prakash Raut, when he met two girls riding on a scooter. While overtaking the vehicle, the deceased’s motorcycle hit the girls’ scooter, resulting in a heated argument between the two near Ramchandrapur bridge under Balianta police station area.
When the deceased allegedly attempted to sexually assault the girls, local villagers rushed to the spot after hearing their screams.
They tied the deceased with ropes and beat him mercilessly. On receiving information, police reached the spot, rescued both of them and took them to the hospital, where doctors declared Soumya brought dead. Deceased Soumya was a soldier of Odisha Government Railway Police (GRP).
–IANS
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