Odisha Chief Minister orders judicial inquiry into ‘torture’ and ‘sexual abuse’ of his fiancée by army officer in custody

Odisha state Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged torture of an army officer and “sexual assault” of his fiancée at a local police station.

The state government has set up a commission of inquiry headed by Justice Chittaranjan Dash, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, an official statement said.

The panel will investigate the sequence of events and circumstances as well as the role, conduct and responsibility of individuals and authorities, it said.

The report will be submitted within 60 days.

“The Commission will propose measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future and to ensure the safety of women,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the army officer, his fiancée and her father met Majhi at the state secretariat here in the morning, an official said.

In a statement on Sunday evening, the Chief Minister had said that the Odisha state government was determined to take strict action against any person or official found guilty.

The state government has also asked the Orissa High Court to supervise the investigation by the Crime Branch of the Odisha Police. An independent inquiry is also being conducted under the supervision of the High Court.

While stressing the rule of law, Majhi said his government respects the Indian Army. “The state government is deeply concerned about the dignity, safety and rights of women,” the statement said.

After meeting Majhi, the woman's father told reporters, “We have requested the Odisha government for a judicial inquiry and they have agreed. We welcome the decision and thank the Chief Minister for it.” The Odisha government has suspended five Bharatpur police station personnel and registered a case against them for “torturing the army officer and sexually harassing his fiancée.”

The alleged incident took place on September 15, when the West Bengal-based army officer and his fiancée went to Bharatpur police station to file a road rage complaint after allegedly being harassed by some local youths.

However, a verbal argument broke out between the two and some police officers, as a result of which the officer and his fiancée were allegedly attacked at the police station.

BJD chairman and opposition leader Naveen Patnaik had demanded a court-monitored SIT investigation and a judicial inquiry into the incident.

The opposition party called off its planned six-hour strike in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday after the government ordered a judicial inquiry.

Some retired army officers along with Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo and Finance Minister Suresh Pujari attended the meeting at the state secretariat earlier in the day.

(This article has not been edited by News18 staff and is taken from the feed of a syndicated news agency – PTI)