Five police personnel in the Indian state of Odisha were suspended in connection with the police brutality against an army officer and his fiancée, according to media reports on Thursday (Sept 19).
In a statement, the Odisha police confirmed the suspension of IIC (Inspector-In-Charge) Dinakrushna Mishra, Sub-Inspector Baisalini Panda, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Salilamayee Sahoo and Sagarika Rath, and Constable Balaram Handa.
The statement said that during their suspension, the officers would remain “under the disciplinary control of the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, and will receive subsistence and dearness allowances in accordance with Rule 90 of the Odisha Service Code.”
The brutality against the army officer, his fiancée
The incident came to light when the army officer and his fiancée were allegedly assaulted at the Bharatpur Police Station after attempting to report a road rage incident, a report by India Today said.
The couple said that they were harassed by some people while driving. The report said that upon reaching the police station to file a complaint, they were allegedly mistreated, with the officer being detained and his fiancée sexually assaulted.
The woman said that a male officer sexually assaulted her, followed by further harassment from the IIC. She further alleged that a female constable verbally abused them when they attempted to file their complaint.
The woman was also subjected to beatings and was tied up. The Crime Branch launched an investigation into the incident.
Three officers transferred earlier
The suspension of the five police officers came after IIC Mishra and two other officers from Bharatpur Police Station to ensure an impartial probe.
The India Today report said that Mishra was reassigned to the Deputy Commissioner of Police’s office in Bhubaneswar, while ASI Sahoo and Constable Handa were sent to the DCP office and Reserve Office.
(With inputs from agencies)