Odisha CB registers criminal case against 5 cops for assaulting Army officer and fiancee

Bhubaneswar, Sept 20: The Odisha Crime Branch on Friday registered criminal cases against five police personnel, including former Bharatpur police station IIC Dinakrushna Mishra for allegedly assaulting an Army officer and his fiancee.

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A criminal case has been registered against former Bharatpur police station IIC Dinakrushna Mishra, SI Baisalini Panda, ASI Salilamayee Sahoo, ASI Sagarika Rath, and constable Balaram Hansda following a complaint filed by the Army officer.

On Wednesday, Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania had suspended them on charge of gross misconduct pending a disciplinary proceeding.

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.

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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.

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

The female friend of the Army officer filed a petition in the Orissa High Court in this regard and the court granted her bail on Wednesday.