CID Crime Branch arrested prime accused Ashok Jena alias Geda in the Balianta mob lynching case of GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain.
Investigators tracked him to Hotel Regal Stay in Patia, Bhubaneswar, and apprehended him on May 28, 2026.
Officials confirmed Jena, aged 45 and a resident of Gangeswargada under Cuttack Sadar Police Station, played a direct role in assaulting the deceased. His arrest followed substantial evidence collected during the ongoing probe into the brutal incident that occurred on May 7, 2026, in the Bhingarpur–Kaja area under Balianta Police Station.
The case, registered under sections 103(1)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, has seen steady progress since the Crime Branch assumed charge. With Jena’s arrest, the total number of accused persons taken into custody has risen to 17.
Crime Branch officials emphasised that the investigation continues on a priority basis. Teams remain deployed to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the mob assault.
