Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Crime Branch on Tuesday apprehended two alleged main accused in the sensational mob lynching case reported from the Bhingarpur–Kaja area under Balianta police limits on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar earlier this month.
The accused persons, identified as Panchanan Badjena alias Kalia and Ranjit Rana, were arrested from the Ranpur forest area in Nayagarh district following a coordinated operation by the CID-Crime Branch, officials said.
The case pertains to the mob lynching incident that took place on May 7 under Balianta Police Station. Subsequently, the CID-Crime Branch took over the investigation from the local police following directions from the Odisha government.
According to the Crime Branch, evidence collected during the investigation established the involvement of the two accused in assaulting the deceased.
A case has been registered at the CID-Crime Branch police station under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, arising out of Balianta police station Case No. 221 of 2026 dated May 9.
With the latest arrests, the total number of accused apprehended in the case has risen to 15. Of them, 11 persons had earlier been arrested by the local police.
The Crime Branch said the investigation is continuing on a priority basis and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other persons involved in the incident.
