Army Veterans & Retd Odisha Cop In Social Media Spat Over ‘Custody Assault’ Case

Bhubaneswar: The outrage over the alleged torture of an Army officer and sexual assault of his fiancée at Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar spilled over to social media with an Army veteran and retired police officer firing off allegations.

Sharing a video of the woman recounting her traumatic experience on ‘X’, former Army chief General V K Singh termed the incident “shameful and horrendous”. “The chief minister should take immediate action against the police personnel and all who are trying to shield the criminals in police uniform,” he wrote using the hashtag #ShameOnOdishaPolice.

Replying to the post, former CBI interim director Nageswara Rao, an Odisha-cadre IPS officer, attempted to shift the blame on the couple saying they picked up a brawl with some engineering students on the road in an inebriated state and then created a ruckus at Bharatpur police station, where they done gone to lodge a complaint, “so much so that the staff had to seek help of PCR”.

“When they were sent to hospital for medical examination and blood test, which is the standard protocol of investigation, they refused. Sir, we, the Indian Police, respect and honour our military because that is the last resort in defending the country from external enemies. A reciprocation from the military towards police which defends the country from internal enemies, is a normal expectation,” Rao replied.

“Finally, I request you to your good offices and ask the COAS to take this Army officer to task for his conduct unbecoming of a soldier, and for besmirching the fair name of the Indian Army,” he added.

The accusations and counter allegations came as several video clips, purportedly of that night prior to the alleged custodial assault, surfaced on social media. While one of them pertains to an altercation between the couple and several men on the road, another, which looks like CCTV footage, apparently shows the woman drinking and dancing at a pub. Other clips from Bharatpur police station show the woman taunting the police personnel on duty.

Reacting to Rao’s post, Major General Harsha Kakar (retd) wrote: “Please tell me why do people go to a police station at odd times. Am sure not to have a drink and dance. They go because they are in trouble and need assistance. This implies they seek sympathy not anger, comments or violence. No one reacts negatively to sympathy. This is human nature. Can you claim and prove police were supportive and helpful. No. They behaved as most police do, abusive and uncooperative. Sad that you defend the wrong, just because it is your cadre. Shows your level of thinking.”

He had earlier slammed Odisha Police accusing it of “protecting molesters, bribe takers, crooked police and abusers of women”. “They are not defending truth. If the Army protests, the nation will come to a standstill. Can this happen to organisations involved in ensuring security. Cheap tactics,” he tweeted.

Also Read: CCTVs Mystery Add Twist To Army Officer, Fiancée Assault Case In Bhubaneswar [Watch]

Notably, the woman’s father, a retired brigadier rank Army officer, had termed such leaked videos as a smear campaign against his daughter. “These videos were leaked to character-assassinate her and to build a different narrative. I have requested the government to take action as per the law in this regard. Also, I sought protection for my daughter, who is running a restaurant, at her workplace. The CM has assured to direct the local police to provide necessary security to her,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch, which is investing the case, recreated the crime scene at the police station on Wednesday. It has also moved a court, seeking permission to conduct a lie detector test on the Army officer’s fiancée and some police personnel, accused of sexual misconduct, after securing written consent from the woman.

Also Read: Odisha Custody Assault Case: CB Seeks Permission For Polygraph Test; Victims Get PSOs

This was necessitated as the agency was finding it difficult to verify the allegations and the counter allegations of police in the absence of CCTV cameras at the police station on the night of the incident and lack of independent witnesses.

Five police officers have suspended after the case sparked an uproar and Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has also ordered a judicial probe by a retired HC judge.