The Odisha government has ordered a judicial probe into an alleged assault on an Army Major and his fiancee by police personnel on September 15 in the Bharatpur Police Station, an official said on Monday.
Retired High Court Judge Chitta Ranjan Dash would conduct the inquiry and submit a report within 60 days.
A gazette notification announcing the judicial inquiry said the government has appointed a commission of inquiry, exercising the power conferred by Section 3, read with Subsection (1) of Section 5 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act.
“This being a matter of serious public importance, the issue should be investigated by a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952,” stated the notification issued by the Home Department.
The notification mentioned that it has come to the government’s attention that cases and counter-cases have been lodged, alleging misbehavior and assault on a woman and a serving Army officer inside the Bharatpur Police Station.
The government, the notification further stated, is deeply concerned about the issue. They believe this is a matter of significant public importance and should be investigated by a commission of inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who chaired a high-level meeting after returning from Keonjhar late Sunday night, ordered the judicial probe into the incident.
Majhi also directed a court-monitored investigation of the Crime Branch inquiry, under the direct supervision of the Orissa High Court.
Official sources said the government has requested the High Court to take measures to expedite the Crime Branch investigation into the incident.
The major opposition party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which had called for a six-hour shutdown in Bhubaneswar city on Tuesday over the incident withdrew the strike in light of the judicial probe ordered by the state government.
BJD President and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik, while strongly condemning the incident, demanded a court-monitored SIT and judicial probe into the matter, calling for stringent punishment for those involved in the alleged assault of the Army Major’s fiancee inside the police station.
Patnaik remarked that the treatment of an Army Major and a woman in Bharatpur Police Station was shocking and beyond comprehension.
Odisha police chief Y B Khurania suspended five police personnel, including the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Bharatpur Police Station, on September 18 in connection with the alleged assault of Army Major and his fiancée on September 15.
The suspended officers include Bharatpur Police Station IIC Dinakrushna Mishra, Sub-Inspector (SI) Baisalini Panda, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Salilamayee Sahoo, ASI Sagarika Rath, and Constable Balaram Hansda.
The incident occurred on September 15 around 1 am when the Army officer and his fiancee went to Bharatpur Police Station to lodge a complaint against some youths who had harassed them while they were returning home.
