Odisha ‘Custody Torture’ Case: Army Officer, Fiancée Appear Before Judicial Commission In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The Army Major and his fiancée, who have alleged custodial torture at Bharatpur Police Station in Bhubaneswar during their visit to lodge a complaint over a road rage, appeared before the judicial commission probing the case on Thursday.

Sources said the accused and suspended IIC Dinakrushna Mishra and the other four police personnel didn’t appear before the judicial commission. Their lawyers instead represented them before the commission.

The judicial commission, headed by chairman Justice Chittaranjan Dash (Retd), had directed all the respondents to appear before it today. Lawyers of the youths involved in alleged harassment of the Army officer and his fiancee also appeared on their behalf before the commission.

As per sources, a total of 16 persons were summoned to appear before the commission. The respondents were directed either to present their cases by themselves or through their lawyers.

The source said that the Commission will start the process of receiving testimony after verifying affidavits. More than 500 affidavits have reportedly been filed in connection with the Bharatpur Police Station case.

Notably, the state government has appointed the Commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, to enquire into allegations levelled by Army Major and his fiancée.

According to reports, an Army Major attached to the 22nd Sikh regiment in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, and his fiancée were assaulted by police at Bharatpur Police Station on September 15. The couple had visited the police station to lodge a complaint against some miscreants over an incident of road rage during the wee hours.

The Army officer was allegedly beaten up by the on-duty police officials while three female cops dragged his fiancée into a cell of the Police station. Some male police personnel, including the ex-Inspector in charge of the Bharatpur Police Station, reportedly thrashed and molested her at the police station.

Following the widespread uproar over the incident, Odisha Police suspended five police personnel — Bharatpur IIC Dinakrushna Mishra, Sub Inspector Baisalini Panda, WASI Salilamayee Sahoo, WASI Sagarika Rath, and Constable Balaram Hansda.

Apart from the Judicial probe, the Crime Branch of Odisha Police is also investigating the incident simultaneously.