Lucknow/Bhubaneswar: An Indian Army officer and his fiancée were allegedly assaulted and molested by police officers. Major Gurvansh Singh of the Sikh Regiment and his fiancée were reportedly subjected to brutality at the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar.
The incident reportedly took place on the intervening night of September 14 and 15.
According to sources in the Army, Major Singh and his fiancée, who is a restaurateur, were returning from her workplace when they were harassed by miscreants in three cars. Seeking refuge, the couple approached the Bharatpur police station, hoping for protection and assistance. However, the situation took a turn for the worse for them when the police officers on duty allegedly refused to help and demanded a written complaint instead.
When the couple insisted on speaking to higher authorities, a heated argument broke out. This escalated into an alleged physical assault on Major Singh and the arrest of his fiancée. Shockingly, she was reportedly subjected to severe physical abuse and molestation by police officers at the station.
The sources said at one point, three policewomen allegedly kicked the major’s fiancée and dragged her in a secluded room where she was tied with her own clothes and a male cop allegedly assaulted and molested her.
Initially, the Odisha Police denied the allegations and defended their actions by stating that Major Singh and his fiancée were detained following an altercation at the Bharatpur police station. According to the police, the couple misbehaved with the officers on duty, which led to the situation escalating.
The police claimed that Major Singh's fiancée assaulted three female police officers, which resulted in her arrest. They also mentioned that Major Singh was briefly detained and later released. The police insisted that they were following protocol by asking the couple to file a written complaint before taking any action.
However, these claims have been strongly contested by Major Singh and his fiancée, who allege that they were seeking help after being harassed by miscreants and were instead subjected to brutality by the police.
[Disclaimer: It must be noted that India Sentinels is unable to independently verify the allegations and counterallegations in this case.]
The Army has expressed its outrage over the incident. The Lucknow-headquartered Central Army Command, also known as Surya Command, issued a strong statement condemning the actions of the police and calling for immediate action.
#IndianArmy#SuryaCommand#MBarea
— SuryaCommand_IA (@suryacommand) September 16, 2024
An incident of manhandling of an Army officer by Police Station, Bharatpur, #Orissa has been reported in media. #IndianArmy takes a serious view of the incidence. Necessary action has been taken up with the state authorities.@adgpi@ProDefLko… pic.twitter.com/EclsAxUXZh
In response, the Odisha’s director general of police (DGP) has ordered the Odisha Police Crime Branch to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report. The DGP has also instructed the withdrawal of the complaint against Major Singh’s fiancée.
The conflicting accounts have, however, further escalated the matter. According to latest reports, a high-level investigation by the Odisha Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to uncover the truth has been initiated. Sources in the Odisha Police said a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) will now lead the CID probe. The CID will also review other related cases to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the case.
