Army officer and fiancée meet Odisha CM Mohan Majhi over police assault

Bhubaneswar, Sept 23: Indian Army officer of Sikh Regiment Major Gurvansh Singh and his fiancée, who were assaulted by police, met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi here in the Lok Seva Bhavan today.

The Chief Minister discussed with Major Gurvansh Singh, his fiancée Ankita Pradhan, Pradhan's father and a former Army officer of Odisha regarding the ordeal.

Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan were present during the meeting.

The Chief Minister discussed with us and assured justice. I am very hopeful that we wil get justice by the judicial probe, Ankita’s father told media persons after the meeting.

"I met the CM (Mohan Charan Manjhi) today. He has ordered a judicial inquiry into my case, which satisfies me as this was my demand. He has assured me that I will get justice within a set period of time. He also assured me that if I need any assistance, he will provide me with the necessary protection," said Ankita.

She further said, "I thank the honourable CM for taking the time to meet us. He listened to all our points carefully. This might be the first time that an inquiry has been ordered to be completed within a time-bound period of 60 days."

The Army officer and his fiancée were assaulted by on-duty police personnel while they had gone to lodge a complaint over a road rage incident in Bhubaneswar on September 14 night. 

The victims met with the Chief Minister hours after the state government directed a judicial inquiry into the matter.

The incident has put the newly elected BJP government in Odisha in a mess with both the Opposition BJD and Congress cornering the ruling party.

Notably, the Army officer posted in West Bengal and his fiancee were allegedly harassed by some local youths on September 14 night 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.