Agencies | Bhubaneswar:
The Odisha government has suspended senior IPS officer Dayal Gangwar following allegations of harassment levelled by the family of GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, who was lynched by a mob on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar last month.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered the suspension of Gangwar, a 1998-batch IPS officer who was serving as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.
Gangwar’s name surfaced during the investigation into the death of Swain, who was allegedly tied to a pole and beaten to death by a mob in the Bhingarpur-Kaja area under Balianta Police Station limits on May 7.
According to police, the attack occurred after a woman accused the constable of attempting to rape her following a collision between his motorcycle and her two-wheeler.
The incident sparked widespread outrage across the state, with Swain’s family alleging that he had been subjected to prolonged physical and mental harassment by Gangwar, who was then serving as Additional Director General (Communication). The family demanded that the senior officer be included in the scope of the investigation.
Subsequently, Gangwar was transferred and posted as OSD in the Home Department while the allegations were examined.
The state government had tasked ADG (Railways) Arun Bothra with conducting an inquiry into claims that Swain had been compelled to perform personal and domestic chores for Gangwar that were unrelated to his official responsibilities.
The inquiry also examined whether the stress and concerns documented in Swain’s personal diary had any connection to the circumstances leading to his death. Bothra submitted his report to the Director General of Police last month.
The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had also raised questions regarding the alleged association between Swain and Gangwar, claiming that the constable was engaged in work at the officer’s residence and gymnasium instead of carrying out regular police duties.
As part of the ongoing probe into the lynching case, the state government had earlier suspended four police personnel, disengaged two home guards and transferred the inspector-in-charge of Balianta Police Station over their alleged roles and conduct in the incident.
Police have so far arrested 18 persons, including the prime accused, in connection with the mob-lynching case. Further investigation is underway.
