Bhubaneswar: In the recent update in the alleged assault case of the Army officer and his fiancee at Chandaka Road in Bhubaneswar, the Odisha High Court directed not to disclose the names of the Major and his fiancee in Media and Social Media. High Court also refused to monitor the Crime Branch probe saying “there is no reason to do so.”
The Odisha High Court has, however, sought the CCTV status of all police stations. Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged torture of an Army officer and the sexual assault of his fiancee at a police station.
The state government is committed to taking strict action against all persons or officials who are found guilty, the chief minister said.
He issued the order for judicial inquiry after a discussion with his deputy chief ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, Law Minister Pritihiviraj Harichandan and senior officers.
According to a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the judicial inquiry will be presided over by Justice Chittaranjan Das and the report will be filed within 60 days.
While emphasising on the rule of the law, Chief Minister Majhi said the state government respects the Indian Army. “The state government is fully concerned about the dignity, safety and rights of women,” the CMO said in a statement.
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.
The Odisha government reiterated its ‘zero tolerance’ policy on violence against women on Friday and initiated an inquiry into the matter
