The fiancée of an Army officer, who was reportedly assaulted at a police station in Bhubaneswar, has accused the inspector-in-charge (IIC) and another officer of “sexually harassing and molesting” her.
Sharing her distressing account with the media, she stated that this happened on the morning of September 15, and claimed she was “wrongfully thrown into jail.”
“I don’t know what happened, they put him in the lockup. When I raised the voice that they cannot put an Army officer in custody as it is unlawful, two female officers started physically assaulting me. I kept pleading to them to stop but they didn’t,” she alleged on Thursday.
The woman further alleged that the police woman dragged her through the corridor, and when the officer tried to grab her neck, she fought back and bit her hand.
The police personnel then put her in a room after tying her hands and legs, she alleged. “After some time, a male officer opened the doors and kicked on my breasts several times and left,” the woman added.
“Then the IIC came, he lowered down my pants and his as well. Showing his private part, he asked me how much time you want to remain silent,” the woman alleged.
‘Action As Per Law Initiated’: CMO Reacts
Issuing a response in the matter, the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office said, “The government has taken the allegations of misbehaviour and assault against an army officer and a woman accompanying him at the Bharatpur police station very seriously.”
The CMO further informed that the Crime Branch has been directed to investigate the matter immediately and submit a report within a stipulated time frame. “As soon as the incident came to the government’s notice, appropriate departmental actions as per law were immediately initiated. The guilty will be punished as per the law.”
“The government has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards violence against women and harassment of women in any form will not be tolerated,” the CMO said in a statement.