Bhubaneswar, June 2: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stepped up its investigation into the Balianta mob violence case that claimed the life of Government Railway Police (GRP) constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, as a two-member team of the commission continued its field inquiry in Odisha.

On Wednesday, the NHRC panel recorded statements from the woman whose complaint allegedly triggered the chain of events leading to the mob assault, as well as the ambulance driver who had responded to an emergency call from the incident site. Both individuals appeared before the commission after being served notices.

During his deposition, 108 ambulance driver Sugyan Mallick stated that his team received a call at 11:06 a.m. regarding an accident at Ramchandrapur under Balianta police limits. According to him, the ambulance reached the location at around 11:34 a.m. Upon contacting the caller, the team was informed that the injured person had already been shifted in a private vehicle. Consequently, the ambulance returned to the Adaspur Community Health Centre without transporting any patient.

The NHRC team, which arrived in Bhubaneswar on June 1, is scheduled to continue its investigation in the state until June 6. The commission is examining various aspects of the incident, including the circumstances that led to the mob attack, the sequence of events surrounding the violence, and allegations of police inaction or negligence before and after the death of the constable.

The case has drawn widespread public attention, with demands for accountability and a thorough investigation into the tragic incident. The NHRC’s findings are expected to play a crucial role in determining responsibility and recommending further action.

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