Odisha govt. has taken serious view of alleged misbehavior of an Army officer & his fiancée- CM

Bhubaneswar, Sep 20 (Representative) The Odisha government has taken a serious view of the alleged misbehavior and assault on an Army officer and the woman accompanying him inside the Bharatpur Police station, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi said on Friday. Taking to his X handle, Majhi said the government has initiated legal and departmental action including suspension of police officers against whom allegations have been made. The Chief Minister said the Crime Branch has been directed to conduct an expeditious investigation into the matter. The Odisha government, Majhi said has zero tolerance for crime against women, and woman security is our utmost priority. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Friday met the fiancée of the Army Major at the AIIMS Bhubaneswar where she is presently undergoing treatment, and inquired about the incident from the victim lady. Parida told newsmen that stringent action would be taken against those who would be found responsible for the incident.

She said “Our government is committed to zero tolerance to crime. The reaction of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister follows after the leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned the incident and demanded a court-monitored SIT and Judicial probe into the alleged assault of the Army Major and also the alleged sexual assault of his fiancée by the police personnel inside the Bharatpur police station. In his complaint, Major Gurvansh Singh alleged that female police officers abused his fiancée, dragged her into a cell, tied her hands, and brutally assaulted her. The Army Major also claimed that when he protested, he was beaten and locked up inside the police station. The Army Major and his girlfriend had gone to the police station on September 15 night to complain about some unsocial elements who had misbehaved with them while they were returning home. The Odisha government had already ordered a crime branch inquiry and suspended five police personnel including the IIC of the Bharatpur Police station. Both the National Commission for Women (NCW) and the State Women’s Commission have suo mutto taken cognizance of the incident and sought a detailed report from the DGP of Odisha police within three days.