Five Cops suspended for alleged assault on Army officer’s fiancée in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Sept 18: Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania on Wednesday suspended five police officers, including former Bharatpur police station IIC Dinakrushna Mishra and three women officers, following allegations of custodial misconduct and molestation of the fiancée of an Indian Army officer. This development comes after the incident drew significant scrutiny and criticism.

The officers suspended are SI Baisalini Panda, ASIs Salilamayee Sahoo and Sagarika Rath, and constable Balaram Hansda. The DGP's office issued a statement indicating that disciplinary proceedings are planned against these individuals for their serious misconduct. During this period, they will be under the disciplinary control of the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack.

The action follows the Twin City Commissionerate Police's decision to transfer Mishra to the DCP, Bhubaneswar office to ensure an unbiased investigation by the Crime Branch. Deepak Kumar Khandayatray from the CP Headquarters has been appointed as the new IIC of the Bharatpur police station. Similarly, Sahoo and Hansda have been reassigned to the DCP office and RO, Bhubaneswar, respectively.

A five-member Crime Branch team, directed by the DGP, visited Bharatpur police station, questioned the officers for over four hours, and reviewed case documents. The allegations involve an Army officer and his fiancée, who claimed they were violently assaulted by police while trying to file a road rage complaint early Sunday morning. The couple also alleged that the police attempted to cover up their actions by falsely accusing them of assaulting and misbehaving with officers.

The Major was reportedly detained in a lockup, and when his fiancée protested, she was allegedly taken to a private room by a female officer, where she was assaulted and molested. The IIC was also accused of making threats. The Major was detained for over 10 hours before being released with Army intervention. The fiancée was later arrested for allegedly causing a disturbance and assaulting a female officer.