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After being cornered by the opposition parties in the alleged assault of an Indian Army officer of the Sikh Regiment, Major Gurvansh Singh and sexual harassment of his fiancee at Bharatpur Police Station, the Odisha government on Friday assured stern action in the case.
While speaking to reporters, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Friday said,” The government has already directed for probe by Crime Branch. The concerned police personnel have been suspended and FIR lodged against them.”
According to the Chief Minister, the state government is taking appropriate steps to take stern action against those involved.
The statements of the Odisha Chief Minister came after the opposition parties launched a scathing attack on the government over the incident which raised questions about the functioning of the police in the state.
While targeting the state government, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik said. “This is very shocking news of the violence that was meted out to both and the alleged sexual assault on the Major’s fiancé. We demand a full judicial inquiry into the matter and action must be taken quickly.”
Similarly, after meeting the victim at AIIMS, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida while talking to media said the government is committed to zero tolerance and will take stringent action whosoever will be found guilty in the case.
Earlier the Congress had targeted the Odisha government alleging that the incident had brought disgrace to India.
Taking a dig at the BJP-led state government, the grand old party wished to know why the Chief Minister, who has the portfolio of the Home Department, and the Deputy Chief Ministers are keeping mum on the Bharatpur issue. If this continues, one has to take up weapons to ensure own safety.
The Chief Minister had vowed to deliver equal justice to all. But the Mohan Sarkar (Mohan Majhi-led government) has turned to be a Mouna Sarkar (Silent government), it said.
“The law and order situation in Odisha has completely collapsed. Women are no longer safe. While most of the police officers are busy providing security to BJP’s national-level ministers who are frequently visiting the state, the rest are busy providing security to state-level leaders. Who cares for commoners? What is unfortunate is that the Chief Minister has the portfolio of the Home Department,” said Sonali Sahu, a Congress leader.
Meanwhile, Congress’ Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous met the Army major’s fiancée at AIIMS.
Terming the incident as unfortunate, she demanded the arrest of the then Bharatpur police station IIC.
“If policewomen are doing duty wearing night suits in the police station, who will protect women? And, the incident has come to the fore because he is an Army major. The IIC has been suspended. Why he has not been arrested yet?” she said.
Regarding the lack of CCTV at Bharatpur Police Station, she said, “Had the government been informed that the police station is not under CCTV surveillance? Is there any proof when the requisition was sent to the Home Department? If the requisition was sent, why did the Home Department sit on it?”