Bhubaneswar: The father of deceased GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain on Monday submitted WhatsApp conversations, voice messages and other evidence to the Crime Branch, alleging gaps in the investigation and claiming that several crucial details were missing from the chargesheet.
Dushasan Swain said he handed over the fresh material to Crime Branch deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ratnaprava Satpathy and urged the investigating agency to consider the evidence while finalising the chargesheet.
“DSP Ratnaprava Satpathy called me, and I submitted a pen drive containing WhatsApp conversations, voice messages and visual material related to the incident,” Dushasan said.
He alleged that several important details had not been included in the chargesheet and claimed that a crucial section had also not been applied.
“We were told that it would be added to the final chargesheet,” Dushasan said.
The deceased constable’s father also expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation and questioned the arrests made in connection with the case.
“The Crime Branch initially said 27 people had been arrested, but later the number was stated to be 20. Six of the 20 arrested persons were subsequently granted bail. We are not satisfied with the investigation,” he said.
Dushasan also raised questions over the role of Om Prakash Rout (his son’s friend), who was allegedly travelling with Soumya at the time of the incident.
“We have doubts about Om’s role in the case as both of them were travelling together. Om was not injured, whereas my son Soumya died. This has raised doubts in our minds,” he said.
Soumya Ranjan Swain was allegedly lynched in Bhubaneswar’s Balianta area on May 7.
According to allegations in the case, the incident took place around 11.30am when two women travelling on a scooter were allegedly hit from behind by two men identified as Soumya Ranjan Swain and his 20-year-old companion, Om Prakash Rout.
The women fell from the scooter following the collision. Soumya was subsequently accused of assaulting the women and attempting to rape one of them. Her dress was allegedly torn and she lost consciousness on the road, following which local residents gathered at the spot and chased the duo.
The subsequent events led to Soumya’s death, prompting the Crime Branch to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The family has now urged the investigating agency to examine the additional evidence submitted by them and address what they allege are gaps in the investigation and chargesheet.
