Five Odisha Police suspended after alleged attack on Army officer’s woman friend
- In Reports
- 06:39 PM, Sep 20, 2024
- Myind Staff
An Army officer's friend was arrested last week for allegedly attacking police officers and damaging property but was released on bail on Wednesday. She now claims that she was sexually harassed, and her partner was wrongly jailed while they were trying to file a complaint at a police station near Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Following this, five police officers, including an inspector, have been suspended for “gross misconduct,” according to Odisha Police Headquarters.
The woman said that after she and her friend fought off a group of men who attacked them late on Sunday night, she tried to file a complaint at Bharatpur Police Station. She was on her way home with her partner after closing her restaurant at 1 am. When they reached the police station, only a woman constable in civil dress was present, and she refused to help them, the woman told reporters.
After a constable started verbally abusing her, the woman said that a few more male police officers arrived and asked her partner to give a written statement. Then, they allegedly threw the Army officer (her partner) into the jail cell. “I don't know what happened... they put him in the lock-up. When I raised my voice to say they cannot put an Army officer in custody as it is unlawful, two female officers assaulted me,” said the woman.
While alleging the male officer of dropping his pants and removing hers said, “After some time, a male officer opened the doors and kicked on my breasts several times…”. Additionally, she claimed that the police station's Inspector-in-Charge made inappropriate gestures. The police said that the woman and her friend, who is from the 22 Sikh Regiment in Kolkata, were drunk and attacked an officer on duty. They also damaged computers and furniture in the police station. She was arrested but released on bail by the Odisha High Court this week. Even the Army officer's car was reported to have a bottle of alcohol inside it according to the local media.
The National Commission for Women, meanwhile, has demanded a report from the police after taking suo moto notice of this incident. "Urgent disciplinary action is expected..." According to recent reports, the case has been referred to the Crime Branch of the Odisha Police.
Image source: MSN
Comments