Bhubaneswar: Railway constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, who was lynched for an alleged attempt to rape a woman in broad daylight, appeared to be in a hallucinatory state during the incident, crime branch sources revealed. Initial investigation suggests he may have been on steroids, thereby mistaking the survivor for another woman who had filed a sexual harassment case against him in the past.Officials, citing post-mortem and viscera reports, said, “Significant traces of anabolic-androgenic steroids and another suspected psychoactive stimulant — drugs known to alter perception, thoughts and emotions — were detected in his blood.”“Some bodybuilders usually take steroids to develop muscle. Since Swain was a fitness instructor, he may have taken an overdose the previous night,” the source said.In his statement to the crime branch, Swain’s friend, Om Prakash Rout, who was a witness to the incident, claimed that Swain suddenly became violent on seeing the 22-year-old woman, who was riding pillion with another woman friend on a scooter.“As per Rout’s statement, Swain first saw the woman and asked him to stop the bike. When Rout did not stop, Swain grabbed his neck, leading the bike to ram into the women’s scooter. Swain mistook her for another woman with whom he had a previous dispute. Swain behaved violently, snatched the woman’s chain, tore her clothes and tried to sexually abuse her. Locals then intervened, leading to the fatal attack on him,” a senior police officer told TOI, requesting anonymity.The crime branch said more clarity would emerge once its investigation reaches the final stage.Doctors explained that such substances can trigger hallucinations. “Unless such steroids are taken under a doctor’s consultation, it leads to severe side effects and psychosis,” said Suvendu Mishra, a senior psychiatrist.Swain’s family dismissed the allegations. “My son was never a drug addict. He was perfectly fit, though he was mentally disturbed over some personal issues,” his father, Dhusasana Swain, said.In a related development, Congress staged a demonstration outside the police commissioner’s office, protesting against the worsening law and order situation in the wake of the mob lynching incident.
