Bhubaneswar, Feb 22 (FN Representative) Commissionerate of Police has successfully nabbed prime accused Biban Biswal after 22 years of most sensational and high profile Anjana Mishra gang rape case. Altogether three persons including Biban were involved in the Anjana Mishra gang-rape case and two of them Pradeep and Dhirendra were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
However, Buban, the Prime accused in the case could not be arrested as he went underground after the incident. The gang-rape case created political turmoil in the state forcing the then Chief Minister J B Patnaik to resign from the post. After much hue and cry, the investigation was handed over to the CBI which submitted the final charge sheet on May 5, 1999. Both Pradeep and Dhirendra were arrested in January 1999 and sentenced to life. Police Commissioner Sudhansu Saranghi said Biban was hiding at Aamby Valley in Pune changing his name as Jalandhar Swain and was working there as a plumber.
Mr Sharnghi said the police launched an operation called- ‘Silent Viper’ with the help of four senior officials and finally succeeded in arresting Biban with the help of Maharashtra police. His arrest is the biggest achievement for Odisha police,” as CBI had also failed to nab him. Biban and two of his associates had allegedly gang-raped Anjana Mishra inside her car on Bhubaneswar-Barang road on January 9, 1999 while she was travelling to Bhubaneswar along with his friend. Two of them Pradeep and Dhirendra were arrested 17 days after the crime and were convicted by the District and Sessions Judge of Khurda. The Police commissioner said Biban had managed to get an Aadhar card, Pan card and open Bank account in the name of Jaladhar Swain while staying in Aamby valley. He was, however, in touch with his family members in Odisha.
It was a difficult task to nab Biban from the 2000 odd workers in the Aamby valley, he said, adding that Biban was trying to flee when he noticed the policemen in plain cloth but was nabbed by the team. He would be handed over to the CBI which was investigating the case.Gang-rape victim Anjana Mishra has expressed big relief after the arrest of Biban and thanked the police team. She demanded capital punishment for Biban for the heinous crime which had completely shattered her life.