Bhubaneswar, May 26: The CID Crime Branch on Tuesday arrested the main accused in the sensational Balianta mob lynching case in which a 32-year-old Government Railway Police (GRP) constable was allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Khurda district earlier this month.

The accused, identified as Binod Kumar Behera (48), a resident of Satya Nagar in Bhubaneswar, was apprehended from the Indupur area of Kendrapara district following sustained investigation and evidence collection by the Crime Branch. With his arrest, the total number of persons arrested in the case has risen to 16.

According to an official release, the Crime Branch registered the matter as CID CB PS Case No. 06/2026 on May 9, based on Balianta Police Station Case No. 221 of 2026 under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The Odisha government later handed over the investigation to the Crime Branch.

The incident occurred on May 7 in the Bhingarpur-Kaja area under Balianta police limits. GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain and his associate Om Prakash Rout were allegedly assaulted by a mob after two women accused them of misconduct.

Police said the women alleged that the duo passed objectionable remarks, rammed their scooter causing them to fall, and physically assaulted one of them. Following the allegations, locals reportedly gathered at the spot and brutally attacked the duo. Videos later surfaced showing Swain tied to an iron structure and assaulted by several people.

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