Odisha: BJD workers stage demonstration in front of Raj Bhawan over custodial assault of Army man's fiancee
Sep 21, 2024
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], September 21 : Biju Janata Dal leaders (BJD) workers on Saturday staged a demonstration in front of Raj Bhawan over the alleged custodial assault of an Army officer's fiancee.
Speaking to ANI, BJD Leader Lekhasri Samantsinghar said, "Odisha is in the news for all the wrong reasons. BJP's double-engine government is making Odisha famous for all the wrong reasons. An army major and his fiancee were assaulted at a police station, where they had to file a complaint.
"No action has been taken in this and the police are silent...why the CM Majhi is not speaking anything on this issue?..." she asked Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi.
This came after an Army Major and his fiancee were allegedly assaulted at Bharatpur police station, demanded the termination of accused police officers from the services.
The incident reportedly took place on September 15 when the Army Major and the woman went to the Bharatpur police station to complain against some miscreants who had harassed them while returning from a hotel late at night. Instead of addressing their concerns, the police allegedly tortured the Major and the woman, even sending her to jail without any justification.
On Friday, former Chief Minister of Odisha and Leader of the Opposition, Naveen Patnaik, has also called for a judicial probe into the alleged assault of an Indian Army officer and his fiancee.
Patnaik emphasised the need for immediate action into the alleged violence and sexual assault that occurred during their visit to file a complaint against harassment.
After the allegations, the Chief Minister's Office of Odisha issued a statement saying that necessary steps and departmental actions have been taken regarding the issue.
"The government has taken the allegations of misbehaviour and assault against an army officer and a woman accompanying him in Bharatpur police station very seriously. As soon as the incident came to the notice of the government, necessary steps were taken as per law along with departmental action," said the statement by the Chief Minister's office.
Five police officers from Bharatpur Police Station in Bhubaneswar involved in the incident have been suspended following allegations of assault and molestation.
