Arrests Rise to 11 in Odisha Mob Lynching Case Amid Police Complicity Allegations

The number of arrests in the mob lynching of railway constable Soumya Ranjan Swain in Odisha has increased to eleven. The incident occurred on May 7, 2026, in Balianta, near Bhubaneswar, after Swain was accused of attempting to rape a woman. A key eyewitness, Om Prakash, alleged that the assault took place in the presence of police who arrived but failed to intervene effectively. Prakash claimed Swain suffered a seizure during a minor traffic accident and denied the rape attempt, stating Swain only slapped the woman after she fell. Conversely, the accuser maintains her claim of sexual assault, while Swain’s family demands a polygraph test for the complainant, calling the public rape allegation implausible. The case has triggered political outrage, with the opposition Biju Janata Dal criticizing the state government for deteriorating law and order. They also raised allegations against a senior police officer involved in private businesses. In response, the State Government has ordered a Crime Branch investigation into the lynching and the surrounding circumstances.