BHUBANESWAR: A day after 32-year-old Soumya Ranjan Swain was lynched to death by a mob, the two young women who allegedly were sexually assaulted by the Government Railway Police (GRP) constable have requested police protection fearing retaliation.
As the videos of the violent incident went viral, drawing outrage, one of the two girls told mediapersons on Friday that they apprehended backlash from supporters of Swain and will request police for protection. Locals of Moujapur which Swain hails from staged a dharna seeking action again the culprits.
On the day, Odisha State Commission for Women chairperson Sovana Mohanty met the two girls and recorded their statements. Mohanty said she will submit a detailed report to the state government regarding the entire incident.
The incident took place near Ramachandrapur when constable Swain and his friend Om Prakash Rout reportedly passed comments on two girls and later rammed their scooter.
One of the two girls recounted that she fell after the youths rammed their motorcycle into their scooter. “I was travelling with my friend when the two youths came from the opposite side and passed comments at us but we ignored. They then took a turn and rammed their bike with our scooter,” she added.
The girl further said one of the youths started assaulting her friend who was riding pillion and even molested her. That’s when some locals rushed to their rescue, she said and claimed neither of them knew the youths.
Meanwhile, Balianta police said they are identifying all those who were part of the mob through the video clips of the incident which went viral on Thursday.
On the day, DGP YB Khurania also visited the crime scene to take stock of the investigation. “So far, five persons have been arrested. Evidence collection is continuing and further action will be taken accordingly,” Khurania told the mediapersons.
Khurania’s visit came hours after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, upon his return from Gujarat, directed the DGP to prevent recurrence of lynching deaths in the state.