Odisha: Naveen Patnaik demands judicial probe in assault case of Army officer, fiancee

Bhubaneswar, Sept 20: Former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged assault of an Army officer and his fiancee in Bharatput police station on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, Patnaik, the Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, termed the incident as 'very shocking' and a matter of great concern. He demanded stringent action against the accused and a court monitored SIT investigation into the case.

Also Read: Army officer assault case: NCW directs Odisha DGP to submit ATR within 3 days

He also criticised the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government in the state for police inaction in the Puri Raj Bhawan manhandling case. 

A Raj Bhawan employee was allegedly beaten up and threatened by Governor Raghubar Das' son and five others on the night of July 7.

“The way an Army Major and a lady were treated in Bharatpur Police Station is shocking and beyond comprehension. The manner in which police have allegedly treated them has shaken the conscience of the country. This has happened to a serving Army Officer and a lady within #Odisha. @bjd_odisha strongly condemns this heinous act and expects the BJP Government to take the strongest possible action against all those involved,” the former Odisha CM posted on X. 

During our government we had the system of #MoSarkar in which Chief Minister, Ministers and Senior Officers would call the citizens to take feedback on their visits to government offices including police stations and hospitals, whether they were treated with dignity and professional conduct. This BJP government has immediately stopped the pro-people initiative of Mo Sarkar and the consequences are visible, he added. 

The day, the BJP government refused to take action against the governor’s son on a serious case of assault, others got emboldened. I still urge for action to be taken by this government against the Governor’s son. I demand a court monitored SIT probe and a judicial inquiry into this grave incident against an Army Major and the lady, he further added.

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

Notably, an Army officer posted in West Bengal and his fiancee were allegedly harassed by some local youths late Saturday 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.

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