Assault on Army officer and alleged molestation of his fiancee in police station tarnishes Odisha Police's image; desperate efforts for makeover

Bhubaneswar, Sept 18: Odisha Police must be desperately looking for a PR management in the backdrop of an allegation of harassment and assault by police against an Army Captain and his fiancée in police station.

Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania placed five personnel of Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar on suspension on Wednesday pending a disciplinary proceeding.

According to an order issued by DGP Y B Khurania the five police personnel – inspector Dinakrushna Mishra, sub-inspector Baisalini Panda, two women ASIs Salilamayee Sahoo and Sagarika Rath and constable Balaram Hansda have been suspended on charge of gross misconduct.

Mishra, Salilamayee and Balaram were transferred on Tuesday following the alleged assault of the army officer and his female friend after the Crime Branch’s preliminary investigation.

The five police personnel will remain under the disciplinary control of Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, Bhubaneswar during the period the order remains in force and draw special allowance and dearness allowance admissible under Rule 90 of Odisha Service Code, said the DGP.

The Odisha Ex-servicemen League on Tuesday demanded an independent probe into the case. Ex-servicemen associations held a peaceful protest in front of Commissionerate Police Headquarters on Wednesday in connection with the matter while Opposition BJD and Congress have raised question over the law and order situation in the state.

The backdrop 

The Army officer posted in West Bengal and his fiancee were allegedly harassed by some local youths on Sunday early morning following which they approached the Bharatpur police station to take swift action against the miscreants over road rage before they flee from the spot.

However, the duo picked up a quarrel with cops in the police station as the on duty officer asked to register an FIR first.

 The army officer was allegedly kept in the lockup and assaulted while his female friend was taken to a secluded room by a woman officer, where she was allegedly assaulted, stripped and molested.

 The army officer was released after 10 hours of detention following intervention by Army authorities. The police, however, booked the female friend of the army officer.

When police realised its mistake, the Bharatpur police station IIC and other subordinate officials tried give a twist to the incident. 

They informed the media that the duo reached the police station in an inappropriate condition and complained the road rage incident. When they were asked to lodge a written complaint, they refused to do so and misbehaved with the cops and manhandled, including a lady officer.

 The female friend of the Army officer filed a petition in the Orissa High Court in this regard. The court on Tuesday ordered the police to provide treatment to her at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar and posted the bail application of the woman for Wednesday directing the investigating officer along with the Inspector-in-Charge of Bharatpur police station to appear before it on Wednesday in virtual mode.