Sexual harassment case of army officer’s fiancée in Odisha: 3 videos of the beginning of the dispute go viral; young man tells the woman – this is not Delhi
Videos related to the case of assault on an army officer and sexual harassment of his fiancée in Bhubaneswar, Odisha have surfaced. In these, both of them are seen surrounded by many young men. A dispute is taking place. The young men tell the woman – this is not Delhi.
According to the woman, she was returning to Bhubaneswar with the army officer after closing her restaurant. On the way, the youths misbehaved with her and beat her up.
The woman alleges that when we went to Bharatpur police station to complain about the incident, the policemen there misbehaved with us. The army officer was locked in the lockup. The policemen took off my clothes and sexually assaulted me.
First video Victim: Sir, I am not talking to you, I am talking to those people who are trying to misbehave with me. This is my car, whether I show my legs, my hair, anything… who are you? This is my privilege.
Young man in the crowd: … then don’t show it to us.
Victim Woman: Who are you?
Young man present in the crowd: Taking the name of Mohan Manjhi, he asks if she has heard his name. When the woman says that she has not heard it… then a young man shouts that he is the Prime Minister of Odisha.
The argument escalates, the army officer tries to take the female friend away by holding her hand, but a crowd of young men follows them… one young man says… this is not Delhi.
After this all the young men push the army officer. The argument continues. The group of young men tells the woman that she is playing the victim card. They tell her that there is no need to show so much overconfidence.
After this the army officer makes his female friend sit in the car.
In the second video, a group of young men abuse and beat up an army officer. The woman tries to save the army officer. The group of young men pushes both of them and attacks them.
The video ends with the army officer and the woman walking towards the car and when she says she will go to the police, a man is heard saying… Hey ja.
The victim woman alleges that the police officers sexually harassed me in the police station. The army officer and the woman went to Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar to complain about the attack on them. The victim woman alleges that when we reached the police station to lodge a complaint of road rage, the policemen first misbehaved with them and then locked the army officer in the lockup.
According to the victim, when she protested, they beat her up and tied her hands and legs. A male officer removed her undergarments. Then he kicked her on the chest. When the Inspector-in-Charge arrived at the police station, he pulled down the victim’s pants, showed his private part and spoke obscenely.
After this, the police arrested the victim on charges of misbehavior.
The incident which happened on 15th September came to light on 19th September. After getting bail from the High Court, the victim was treated at Bhubaneswar AIIMS on 19th September. Only then did everyone come to know about the incident.
After the victim’s allegations, a complaint was lodged at Chandka police station on September 19 on the instructions of DG YB Khurania. He ordered the Crime Branch to investigate, after which 5 police officers including the Inspector Incharge of Bharatpur were suspended.
In this case, former Union Minister and BJP leader VK Singh had talked about taking action against the accused.
Victim made 5 serious allegations against the policemen
- On September 15, at 1 am, I was returning home with the army officer after closing my restaurant. On the way, some youths tried to block their way and started molesting them. We reached Bharatpur police station to complain to the police and ask for help.
- When he tried to lodge a complaint in Bharatpur police station, a woman police officer in civil dress started abusing him. After a while, some more policemen arrived at the police station in a patrolling vehicle. They locked the army officer in the lockup.
- When I said that they cannot detain an army officer, it is illegal, two female policemen grabbed my hair and started hitting me hard. When a female policeman tried to grab my neck, I bit her hand.
- After this they tied my hands with my jacket. They tied my legs with a lady constable’s scarf. After a while a male officer came. He removed my undergarments and started kicking me on my chest.
- At around 6 in the morning, the Inspector-in-Charge came. He pulled down my pants. Then he pulled down his pants and showed his private parts and spoke obscene things. During this time, I was shouting loudly for help.
Army officer said- 4 policemen dragged me, tore off my pants. Army officer said that while filing a complaint in the police station- suddenly four police officers caught me. All four of them dragged me to a cell. There they removed my pants. They took away all my belongings. I was illegally kept inside the cell till 3 am. Meanwhile, two female police officers beat up my fiancée in the lobby.
At 6 am, when my fiancée demanded an arrest warrant from the police officers, she was dragged into a room and four male and three female police officers, including the SI in-charge, stripped her clothes and assaulted her. I kept hearing screams for 30 minutes. After this, my fiancée was arrested on charges of misbehavior.
Police said- Army officer and his fiancée were drunk Bharatpur police said that the army officer and his fiancée were drunk. They reached Bharatpur police station on the night of 15 September and vandalised it. They broke computers and furniture. They also assaulted on-duty officers. That is why they were arrested.
Former Army Chief said- what happened in the police station is shameful
BJP leader and former Union Minister VK Singh has raised questions on the matter. He wrote on his X-post – Everyone should listen to the victim (army officer’s fiancée). She is the daughter of a retired army officer. What happened to her in Odisha’s police station is shameful. Immediate action should be taken against the accused policemen.
The Women’s Commission took cognizance The National Women’s Commission has taken cognizance of the matter. The commission has written a letter to the Odisha DGP and sought an action report within 3 days. It also said that immediate action should be taken in the matter. There should be no delay in this.
Medical examination confirms physical assault on the victim The victim is currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar. Medical examination confirms physical assault on her. Director General of Police YB Khurania has handed over the investigation of the case to the Crime Branch.
The accused in the case, Bharatpur police station Inspector-in-Charge (ICC) Dinakrishna Mishra, Sub-Inspector Baisalini Panda, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Salilamayee Sahu and Sagarika Rath and Constable Balram Handa, have been suspended, Odisha Police said.
The victim’s father said- the policemen should be arrested. The Brigadier father of the victim said- the police have violated many laws by sexually harassing my daughter. The accused policemen should be arrested. The state government should work sensitively with women. The state government should set an example by punishing the accused policemen.
Former Chief Secretary’s question- Who gave the police the right to beat a woman? Bijay Kumar Patnaik said strict action should be taken against Bharatpur police station in-charge inspector. Who gave the police the right to beat a girl? If the police is not patrolling at night, then what is the government doing? So much money is being spent on various schemes, why? If steps are being taken for women empowerment, then why are they unsafe?
