In a high-stakes investigation that has gripped Odisha, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has swung into action with a marathon probe into the mysterious murder of GRP Constable Soumya Ranjan Swain.
What began as a routine case has now turned into an intense scrutiny of police conduct, medical findings, and possible foul play.
The NHRC team arrived in the state and hit the ground running on Tuesday, visiting the crime spot at Baliantra, Soumya’s gym in Adaspur, and meeting his grieving family at Maujpur for detailed questioning. The probe continued unabated on Wednesday from 8 AM at a specially set-up camp court in Bhubaneswar, where over eight witnesses appeared one after another.
Key highlights of the day’s grilling session:
- Two young women, who had filed an assault complaint against Soumya, were questioned face-to-face along with his friend Om and the ambulance driver for nearly two to three hours. This confrontation is being seen as a crucial moment in establishing the sequence of events.
- The ambulance driver and former Baliantra Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anil Parida faced detailed cross-examination.
- The doctor who conducted Soumya’s postmortem at Capital Hospital, Dr. L.D. Behera, was asked pointed questions: How many injury marks were found on the body? What was the exact cause of death? And crucially, what was the steroid level detected in Somya’s system?
- The mini-truck driver Safiullah Khan, who transported Soumya from the spot, revealed that a plainclothes policeman had stopped him near Niali and directed him to take the injured constable to Balakati Community Health Centre.
- Members of the Scientific Team that examined the crime scene were also summoned to explain their findings, timing of arrival, and evidence collected.
The NHRC team is leaving no stone unturned, examining every angle — from alleged police negligence and possible custodial violence to the role of steroids and the exact circumstances leading to Somya’s death. Sources indicate that more witnesses are expected to be called on Thursday before the team returns to Delhi.
Soumya Ranjan Swain’s death has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about the safety of police personnel and accountability within the force.
As the NHRC’s independent probe gathers momentum, the people of Odisha await answers that could expose uncomfortable truths within the system.
