By Our Correspondent
CUTTACK/BHUBANESWAR: DGP Abhay has all his praise for the team ‘Operation Silent Viper’. The team led by Police Commissioner Dr Sudhansu Sarangi and Cuttack’s young DCP, Prateek Singh met DGP at State Police Headquarters’ over tea and detailed out the entire operations to the Police Chief.
DGP interacted with team of officers and men involved in apprehension of prime accused in sensational Anjana Mishra gang rape case of 1999. DGP appreciated their hard work, dedication and appropriate use of scientific methods of investigation.
“The ‘Ops Silent Viper’ team was invited by @DGPOdisha Sri Abhay for tea at the State Police Headquarters. This is the team that conducted a high-secret mission arresting Biban Biswal, main accused in a sensational gang rape case of 1999. Thumbs up@CMO_Odisha@dcp_cuttack @odisha_police,” Police Commissioner Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi tweeted @SarangiSudhansu.
It may be noted here that it took almost 22 years for Odisha Police to reach to the main accused in the advocate Anjana Mishra gang rape case that had rocked the then late JB Patnaik Government in 1999. Backed by able and energetic Police Commissioner, Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi, police had launched ‘Operation Silent Viper’ 3 month back with a team of three police personnel, including Cuttack DCP Prateek Singh and finally, On February 19, a special team led by Badambadi police station IIC Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra, which had left for Mumbai , successfully back home with the accused, Biban Biswal.
On the intervening night of January 9-10, 1999 Anjana was gang-raped by three persons near Baranga while she was going to Cuttack from Bhubaneswar along with a journalist-friend in a car. She was raped by Padia, Dhirendra and Biban, On January 26 that year, Padia and Dhirendra were arrested.In 2002, Khordha District and Sessions Judge Court had sentenced Padia Sahu and Dhirendra Mohanty to life imprisonment in the gang rape case. On February 24 2020, Padia died following illness.
Biswal , key accused in Anjana Mishra Gang Rape had been absconding for the last 22 years and arrested from Lonavala in Maharashtra. The accused had changed his name to Jalandar Swain and was staying in Aamby Valley in Lonavala near Mumbai. He was working as a plumber there.
He had mentioned Naranpur (Cuttack) in his permanent address. When police initiated an inquiry, they found out that no such person belongs to Naranpur. He had a permanent job, Aadhaar card and bank account there. But he was in contact with his family members and had asked his family to get a death certificate in his name to avoid police detention in future.
Odisha police with the help of Maharashtra counterparts had launched operation ‘Aamby Valley’. The cops got to know that a person named Swain works in Aamby Valley as a mechanic and stays in a staff quarters two and a half km away. Seeing the police, the accused tried to escape. However, the cops managed to nab him and brought him here.Witnesses have recognized him and he will be handed over to CBI, which is investigating the 1999 case. The next course of action will be taken by the investigating agency.
