Dalit Man Died After Mob Lynching In Odisha’s Khurda, Family Accuses Police

A 32-year-old Dalit man, identified as Tofan Nayak , was allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Khanat village under Banpur police station limits in Khurda district , Odisha, after being suspected of theft, according to police and multiple reports. The incident, which occurred on Sunday around 4 pm, has triggered serious allegations of custodial negligence and assault, with the victim’s family accusing police of failing to ensure timely medical care.

Police said villagers allegedly tied Nayak to an electric pole and assaulted him in public before officers intervened following an emergency call. A police team rescued him around 6 pm and handed him over to his family approximately two hours later, after which he was taken for treatment. He was first admitted to Banpur Community Health Centre and later shifted to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar , where he died on Monday during treatment.

According to Odisha Police , two villagers identified as Pabitra Rout (51) and Sarat Kumar Swain (60) have been arrested, while further investigation is underway. Officials have rejected allegations of custodial violence, stating that CCTV footage, handover documents and witness statements do not support claims of police assault.

However, the victim’s wife has filed a case under murder provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act , alleging assault by both villagers and police personnel. The family has demanded a high-level probe, while the victim’s father has alleged that authorities failed to immediately refer him to a hospital after rescue.

Police maintain that Nayak appeared intoxicated but was not injured in custody, and that the cause of death will be confirmed only after the postmortem report . Investigators are also examining viral video footage purportedly showing the assault.

Officials said the case remains under active investigation, with further action expected based on forensic findings.

The incident comes amid rising concern over mob violence in Odisha , including recent similar cases in Khurda and other districts that have raised questions about law enforcement response and caste-related vulnerabilities in rural conflict situations.