GRP submits report on IPS officer to human rights cell

Bhubaneswar: The Government Railway Police (GRP) has submitted a detailed report on senior IPS officer Dayal Gangwar to the human rights protection cell (HRPC) of the Odisha police, stating that deceased constable, Soumya Ranjan Swain, was illegally engaged for domestic work by Gangwar.The GRP acted on a directive from the crime branch, which is probing Swain’s recent mob lynching, and furnished its findings on Gangwar’s conduct during his tenure as ADG (railway) in 2023-24.“We submitted our inquiry report to the HRPC and the crime branch on May 30. Based on statements of several personnel and circumstantial evidence, it was prima facie established that Swain was engaged in personal work for the IPS officer without any written order. His deployment was purely on the verbal instructions of the officer,” a senior police officer said.On May 25, Gangwar was shunted from the post of ADG (communication) and appointed officer on special duty (OSD) in the home department — a posting widely seen as punitive and a demotion for a senior officer.Although Gangwar’s role is not directly linked to Swain’s lynching, which followed allegations of a rape attempt in Balianta on May 7, he faces an administrative inquiry after Swain’s family accused him of exploitation and harassment. The family claims Swain was under severe mental stress due to the officer’s treatment.The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which is investigating both the circumstances of Swain’s death and the alleged misuse of subordinate staff, recorded Gangwar’s statement during its field inquiry in Bhubaneswar from June 1 to 5. The IPS officer has so far refrained from commenting publicly on the allegations.Amid the controversy, DGP Y B Khurania recently issued a general order cautioning that no personnel should be deployed to any organisation on verbal instructions.In a related development, Swain’s close friend Nishikant Mohanty on Saturday handed over to the crime branch a personal diary written by the deceased constable. “The diary reflects his mental anguish and contains his issues with Gangwar. The crime branch must carry out a thorough and impartial probe,” Mohanty said.