'Major's honour and fiancée's modesty....': Top Army officers react to Odisha police brutality

Photo courtesy: X

The case of police assault on Army Major Gurvansh Singh and the molestation of his fiancée at Bharatpur Police Station in Odisha has escalated further, drawing reactions from top Army officers.

Lieutenant General PS Sekhawat sought the intervention of Odisha Chief Justice in the matter while another top officer, Maj Gen (retd) Harsha Kakar reacted on X: "Crooked police and abusers of women."

The policemen who did this need to go to jail and their senior leadership held to account. @rajnathsingh Sir, request you to step in and address this matter. I have spoken to many serving/retired officers & men. There is tremendous rage in the Army. @odisha_police misbehaved pic.twitter.com/iUZm2ToZOe
Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@majorgauravarya) September 20, 2024

Major Gaurav Arya (retd) posted on X tagging Union minister Rajnath Singh: "The policemen who did this need to go to jail and their senior leadership held to account. @rajnathsingh Sir, request you to step in and address this matter. I have spoken to many serving/retired officers & men. There is tremendous rage in the Army."

Drama by @odisha_police . They are protecting molesters, bribe takers, crooked police and abusers of women. They are not defending truth. If @adgpi protests, the nation will come to a standstill. Can this happen to organizations involved in ensuring security. Cheap tactics. https://t.co/o2jVcDocdI Maj Gen Harsha Kakar (@kakar_harsha) September 22, 2024

Kakar posted on X, responding to news of Odisha cops protesting against suspension of accused officers: "Drama by @odisha_police . They are protecting molesters, bribe takers, crooked police and abusers of women. They are not defending truth. If @adgpi protests, the nation will come to a standstill. Can this happen to organizations involved in ensuring security. Cheap tactics. @CMO_Odisha @BJP4India ."

According to Kalinga TV, Lieutenant General PS Sekhawat wrote in the letter, “I am writing to bring your attention, a grave incident that occurred at Bharatpur police station Bhubaneswar on 15th September 2024, where the prestige of a serving Army Officer was demeaned and the modesty and dignity of his fiancé, who is also happened to be the daughter of a retired Brigadier, was grossly outraged by the police authorities.”

“The unfortunate incident took place when the Army Officer along with his fiancé went to the police station to file a complaint against miscreants who had misbehaved with the couple at approximately 0100 hours on the day of the incident. Instead of exending the expected protection and support, the officers on duty acted in a manner unbecoming of their position. They not only humiliated the lady but also molested her and also disrespected the Army Officer by putting him under custody without any charge for almost 14 hours. The medical inspection of the lady also indicates grave injuries, which point to manhandling by the police personnel. The Bharatpur Police Station does not have a CCTV installed with is violative of Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions. The police action and their purported statements are manipulative and aimed at concealing the police brutality on the lady and the officer,” the letter added.

Amid strong crticism from Opposition parties, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has taken to X to assure people of action, “As the incident is very sensitive, the Crime Branch has been directed to investigate the incident immediately and submit a report within the specified time frame. As soon as the investigation report is received, the culprits will be given exemplary punishment. The government has a zero-tolerance policy against violence against women. Harassment of women will not be tolerated in any form."