Odisha Chief Minister will not hesitate to take action against perpetrators in assault case against army officer

(MENAFN-IANS) Bhubaneswar, Sept 20 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said that the state government has already entrusted the case of alleged assault on an Army officer and his fiancée by policemen at Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar on September 15 to the Odisha State Crime Branch for investigation.

Speaking to media persons on Friday, the chief minister said that five police officers have been suspended in the case and criminal proceedings have been registered against them. He said the government will not hesitate to take strict action against anyone found guilty.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Friday said through its official X-name that the state government is taking the matter seriously.

“The state government has taken serious note of the allegations of assault on an army officer and his companion at Bharatpur police station. Immediately after the incident came to the attention of the government, steps as per law were taken and departmental action was initiated,” CMO informed on Friday.

“Since this is a very sensitive matter, the CID has been directed to initiate an investigation and submit a report immediately within a stipulated time. After receiving the investigation report, exemplary punitive action will be taken against the perpetrators as per law. The government has a zero tolerance policy towards violence against women and atrocities against women can never be tolerated,” CMO added.

Earlier, former chief minister and opposition leader Naveen Patnaik had demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged attack on an army officer and his fiancée at Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar in the early hours of September 15. The opposition BJD has also announced that it will hold a protest rally in front of the Governor’s House in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

According to reports, Army officer Gurvansh Singh Gosal of the 22nd Sikh Regiment in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, and his girlfriend had gone to the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar to lodge a complaint against some miscreants over an incident of road rage. At the police station, an argument broke out between the police and the Army officer and his girlfriend.

The army officer was allegedly beaten by the police officials on duty while three female policemen dragged his girlfriend to a cell at the police station. Some male policemen, including the former IIC of Bharatpur police station, allegedly beat up and harassed her at the police station.

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