Screengrab of video shows army officer's friend being assaulted. (X/DashShibashish)
New Delhi: In a shocking incident from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, an Army officer and his friend were assaulted by a group of men, with videos of the altercation now surfacing online. The videos, which have not been independently verified, show the Army officer and the woman being manhandled while being subjected to verbal abuse by several men.
The assault took place in the early hours of Sunday, around 1 am, when the woman, who had just closed her restaurant, was returning to the hotel with the Army officer, attached to the 22 Sikh Regiment in Kolkata. Following the attack by the men, the woman later alleged that she was sexually harassed at the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar when they went to file a complaint.
She is a lawyer
— GAURAV C SAWANT (@gauravcsawant) September 19, 2024
She is an entrepreneur
She is an Army Brigadier's daughter
She is an Army Captain's fiancé.
She is an alleged victim of police brutality in Odisha.... pic.twitter.com/zDJ9l1Bgz9
The videos show a tense confrontation between the officer, the woman, and the group of men. The woman can be heard accusing some of the men of misbehaving with her, stating, "It is my car, whether I show my legs or my hair, it is my prerogative." One man responded with, "Don't show it to us, then," escalating the situation. When the woman questioned their authority, one of the men mentioned a politician, while another claimed, "The Prime Minister of Odisha."
#Bharatpur Shocker: Video of #army officer Major Gurvansh Singh & his fiancee in an argument & fight with some locals on road before arriving at PS to register FIR.
— Shibashish Dash (@DashShibashish) September 20, 2024
She is yelling slangs !?🤬🙄
Who seems culprit..m confused 🤔@CIDOdisha @BJP4Odisha @bjd_odisha #Odisha pic.twitter.com/oSab520PIW
As the argument intensified, the men continued to harass the woman, accusing her of playing the "victim card." They mocked her and the officer, telling them, "This is not Delhi." The men physically assaulted the officer as he attempted to shield the woman and escort her to their car.
She is a lawyer
— GAURAV C SAWANT (@gauravcsawant) September 19, 2024
She is an entrepreneur
She is an Army Brigadier's daughter
She is an Army Captain's fiancé.
She is an alleged victim of police brutality in Odisha.... pic.twitter.com/zDJ9l1Bgz9
The situation worsened when they reached the Bharatpur police station to file a report. The woman alleged that a female constable refused to assist them, and several policemen arrived, demanding a written statement from the officer before locking him in a cell.
In a disturbing account, the woman claimed that two female officers assaulted her when she protested, using her jacket to bind her arms. She further alleged that a male officer kicked her repeatedly and sexually assaulted her.
In response to the incident, Odisha Police headquarters has suspended five officers, including an inspector, for "gross misconduct." An inquiry has been initiated, with officials from a separate police station now investigating the assault on the woman and the Army officer.
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has called for a judicial probe into the events at the police station, stating, "We demand a full judicial inquiry into this matter, and action must be taken very quickly." The Odisha High Court has granted bail to the woman, who was arrested following accusations by the police that she and the Army officer had vandalized property and assaulted a police officer while intoxicated.
As the investigation continues, the incident has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about police misconduct and the treatment of victims seeking justice. The suspension of officers and the call for a judicial inquiry underscore the gravity of the situation.
