A judicial investigation into the reported sexual and physical assault of an Army soldier and his fiancée at Bharatpur Police Station in Bhubaneswar was ordered by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday.
On September 14, while they were travelling back to Bhubaneswar to submit a complaint against miscreants who had delayed them, the incident took place.
An post on X (formerly Twitter) by Odisha Chief Minister’s Office’s handle said, “The said inquiry will be conducted by Judge Justice Chittaranjan Das. The Honourable Commission has been requested to submit its report within 60 days”, the post said.
Additionally, the court has been asked to expedite the criminal investigation into the case, which is being overseen directly by it.
“It is worth noting that the Chief Minister has laid maximum emphasis on the rule of law. Along with this, the state government also has respect for the Indian Army. The state government is fully concerned about the dignity, safety and rights of women,” the post added.
Following discussions with senior authorities, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, Law Minister Pritihiviraj Harichandan, and his deputies KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, the Chief Minister ordered a judicial inquiry.
As for the police officers in question, they have been placed on suspension and are the subject of a formal complaint over their alleged attack on the Amry officer and his fiancée. In addition, the young people who were allegedly misbehaving with the pair were detained and brought before the court.
On September 14, while the couple was coming home from an outing, a gang of unidentifiable men started chasing them. They ran to the closest police station out of fear for their lives.
On September 15, the couple arrived at the police station at around one in the morning to make a complaint. But in a horrifying turn of events, the couple claimed that the cops had violently attacked them. The woman said that she had been physically and sexually tormented in addition to being naked.
She said that her own jacket had bound her hands and wrapped her legs with a scarf. A police inspector allegedly raped and flashed her after dragging her through the corridors by her hair.
The woman reportedly bit one of the policemen in an effort to defend herself. After that, she was taken into custody by police. The Army officer, meanwhile, was placed in a lockup, rendering him defenceless and unable to step in.
The Army officer made a formal report, and on September 20, following widespread indignation about the occurrence on social media and other public forums, an official legal complaint (FIR) was filed against the five police officers.
