Odisha: Army Officer's Fiance Alleges Sexual Assault By Cops, Says One Of Them Flashed Her

A shocking incident involving a lawyer and restaurant owner in Bhubaneswar has surfaced, where she was allegedly assaulted, molested, and humiliated by police officers at the Bharatpur Police Station on September 15. The woman, who is also the fiancée of an army captain, spoke out about her ordeal on Thursday, shortly after being discharged from AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she was treated for severe injuries, including a dislocated jaw.

According to the woman, the events unfolded late on Sunday night, when she and her fiancé were attacked by a group of people after closing her restaurant. Fearing for their safety, they fled to the Bharatpur Police Station to seek help. "There was nobody except a woman police constable who was sitting at the reception. We requested her to register the complaint as there were several youths in the vehicle and they might follow us at any time and so police patrolling would be helpful for us. However, instead of registering my complaint, she misbehaved with me," she recalled.

Identifying herself as a lawyer only seemed to escalate the situation. "In the meantime, a police patrolling vehicle with several cops including female police reached the police station. Then two female officers started pulling my hair and began thrashing me. When I pleaded with them to stop, they dragged me through the corridor of the police station," she recounted, adding that she was subjected to extreme violence and humiliation. "They removed my jacket and tied both my hands with it and they used a scarf to tie both my legs and threw me into a room."

The situation deteriorated further when a male officer entered the scene. The woman described the brutality she faced, stating, "Later, a male officer came and continuously kicked on my chest after removing my bra." The horror didn't end there, as the inspector in charge of the police station, Dinakrushna Mishra, arrived and allegedly molested her.

"Then the inspector of the police station came, unzipped his trousers, flashed his genitals, and taunted me if I wanted to have a physical relationship with him."

The woman, who had initially been arrested on charges of assaulting the police, was released on bail by the Orissa High Court on Wednesday. Her plea to cancel the First Information Report (FIR) against her and her fiancé will be heard on September 26. Following her release, the army officer, her fiancé, filed a formal complaint against the police personnel at the Bharatpur station.

In response to the incident, the Odisha state government has ordered a CID investigation, and five police officers, including Inspector Dinakrushna Mishra, have been suspended. The National Commission for Women has also demanded an action-taken report from the state's Director General of Police (DGP). DGP YB Khurania assured, "All wrongdoers will be identified and strict action will be taken against them," adding that a case would be registered against the assailants who had initially attacked the woman and her fiancé, prompting them to seek help from the police in the first place.

This incident has raised serious concerns about police brutality, misconduct, and the abuse of power in Odisha, with many calling for swift justice and accountability for those involved.