The commissionerate police in Bhubaneswar have decided to deploy their special tactical unit (STU) to handle incidents of mob violence. The STU, a force specifically trained to counter urban terrorism, will now be adapted for crowd control scenarios following the recent Balianta lynching case.
In the Balianta incident, a railway constable, Soumya Ranjan Swain, was beaten to death by an angry mob on May 7 after allegations of attempted rape. The lynching occurred in the presence of police personnel, exposing significant lapses in crowd control and sparking widespread public outrage. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi subsequently instructed the state police to strengthen their capacity for tackling mob violence and ensure such tragedies are not repeated.
On Thursday, senior officials briefed STU commandos, sensitising them to the dynamics of mob violence and emphasising the need for restraint. A senior officer stated, 'We will hold special training sessions for STU commandos on handling mob violence. They will be stationed in police control room vehicles and dispatched swiftly to areas where crowds turn violent.'
The STU was raised in 2013 and modelled on the elite National Security Guard (NSG). It comprises commandos from the special operations group (SOG) of the Odisha police. These commandos are trained in ambush tactics, guerrilla warfare, hostage rescue and sniper support. Now, these skills are being adapted to crowd-control scenarios.
Meanwhile, the commissionerate police are finalising a standard operating procedure (SOP) for local personnel, who are often the first responders. 'We have already conducted mock drills in Cuttack Sadar area. Similar rehearsals will be held in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack,' the officer added.
The role of police in preventing mob violence has long been under scrutiny. In Balianta, officers were criticised for standing by as the constable was lynched. A day later, fresh violence erupted in Balipatna after the murder of a local youth, indicating the fragile law and order situation.
Experts note that mobs thrive on anonymity and collective impunity. People feel shielded within a crowd, emboldened to commit acts they would never attempt alone. Retired DSP S K Swain explained, 'Police face a dilemma — inaction makes them appear ineffective, but use of force invites backlash. Civil society criticism has discouraged strong interventions, leaving officers hesitant.'
Despite repeated attempts to curb mob violence, progress has been limited. Another officer observed, 'Once unrest subsides, both police and public allow memories to fade. Lessons aren’t learnt, while troublemakers believe that anonymity protects them from accountability.'
