Bhubaneswar: The state crime branch on Thursday arrested the prime accused in the brutal mob lynching of railway constable Soumya Ranjan Swain (32) in Balianta on the city’s outskirts on May 7.The accused, Ashok Jena alias Geda (45), a resident of Gangeswargada in Cuttack, was taken into custody from a hotel in Patia, Bhubaneswar. With his arrest, the total number of people held in connection with the case has risen to 17. While Balianta police earlier arrested 11 men, the crime branch has arrested six.According to officials, Jena had visited Balianta for personal work when he noticed a crowd gathered on the roadside. On hearing that Swain had allegedly attempted to rape a 22-year-old woman in broad daylight, Jena joined the mob and assaulted the constable.“We have clear evidence against him after analysing video footage. He was seen hitting the victim’s head and face repeatedly. He had been absconding, but we tracked him down to a hotel and arrested him this morning,” said DIG (crime branch) B Gangadhar.Police clarified that Jena had no personal connection with Swain. “We are still tracking more suspects. Everyone involved will be arrested,” Gangadhar added.
