Odisha samiti member murder row: Erasama IIC transferred

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Jagatsinghpur, May 27:

Following allegations of police inaction in connection with the murder of Nuadihi Panchayat Samiti member Ranjan Swain in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur, the district superintendent of police (SP) on Thursday transferred the IIC of Erasama police station.

The locals had alleged that they informed the IIC regarding the incident on Wednesday night when Swain was found in an unconscious state under a bridge near Ambiki Road here, but the police officer didn’t pay any heed to it.

Worth mentioning, Swain was allegedly attacked by unidentified miscreants on Wednesday night and sustained grievous injuries. He died on the way to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Reacting over the incident, irate locals had on yesterday gheraoed the Erasama police station and demanded immediate arrest of the accused. They damaged two police vehicles and blocked the main road by burning tyres besides vandalizing the Erasama community health centre (CHC).

According to sources, Swain had gone to a Panchayat Samiti meeting on the fateful evening but didn’t return home. His family members searched for him and found him lying in an unconscious state under the bridge. He was rushed to Erasama CHC but later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital as his condition deteriorated. However, he took his last breath on the way to the hospital.

Swain had gone to the meeting to solve a land dispute. Locals have claimed that persons belonging to the aggrieved party of the land dispute might have attacked Swain leading to his death.

Police investigation into the incident is on.