Bhubaneswar, Amid national outrage over the alleged assault of an Army officer and his fiancée at the Bharatpur Police Station, the Orissa High Court directed the state government on Tuesday to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) that defines appropriate conduct towards defense personnel at police stations.
During the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the incident at the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar, the court voiced its dissatisfaction regarding the absence of CCTV cameras in 13 police stations.
ADG of Police (Modernisation) Dayal Gangwar personally appeared before the court and assured that the installation of CCTV cameras in the stations would be completed within 15 days. He also stated that a Video Management System (VMS), enabling the Superintendent of Police to monitor footage from all stations, would be operational within the same timeframe.
It may be noted that the Odisha government previously reported that 57 police stations did not have CCTV cameras.
Gangwar also confirmed that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for appropriate behavior towards Army personnel would be issued soon, and efforts are being made to define the modalities.
The next hearing is set for November 12, 2024.
In a related matter, the High Court decided not to consider a petition from a family member of one of the suspended police officers concerning media statements made by the female victim. The court observed that the woman had been advised to refrain from speaking to the media to protect her dignity, and her remarks to news outlets did not amount to contempt of court.
It is important to note that on September 15, the Army officer and his fiancée initially approached the Bharatpur police station to file a complaint regarding road rage, in which they were allegedly harassed by local youths. However, a verbal altercation ensued between the couple and some policemen, leading to the officer and his fiancée allegedly being assaulted at the police station.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with the opposition attempting to hold the Odisha government accountable. In response to the alleged custodial assault on the Army Captain and his girlfriend, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered a judicial probe headed by Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash, which has generated national attention. The Commission has been tasked with submitting its findings to the government within 60 days. The commission has already started its investigation on September 30 from an office at the Special Circuit House.
Additionally, amidst the public outcry, the Odisha DGP ordered a Crime Branch investigation and suspended five personnel, including the IIC of the Bharatpur police station, on charges of gross misconduct.
