Odisha 'Custodial Assault' Case Triggers Sharp Opposing Reaction From Army Veterans And Police

The Odisha ‘custodial assault’ case has sparked outrage wherein Army veterans have condemned the police in the incident while retired cops have questioned the couple's conduct.

File Photo of Retired Army chief General VK Singh and former CBI Director M Nageswara Rao

Source : PTI | X/@MNageswarRaoIPS

Odisha 'Custodial Assault' Case: The alleged torture of an Army officer and sexual assault of his fiancée at Bharatpur police station in Odisha has sparked outrage, drawing sharp reactions from both Army veterans and retired police personnel. While veterans, including retired General VK Singh, have condemned the incident as "shameful and horrendous," some retired police officers have questioned the behaviour of the couple alleging that they were intoxicated at the time.

The controversy intensified as videos allegedly showing the couple involved in a brawl with a group of people surfaced on social media. The woman has claimed that she was physically assaulted and sexually abused at the police station, while her Army officer-fiancé was unlawfully detained in a cell. The incident occurred after the couple went to the police to file a complaint regarding a road rage incident. In response to the growing uproar, five police officials have been suspended.

Odisha 'Custodial Assault' Case: Army Veterans Slam Police Over Couple's Allegations

Retired Army chief General VK Singh, in a post on X, demanded immediate action against the police personnel involved, as well as anyone attempting to shield them. "What happened to the fiancée of an Army officer in Bharatpur police station in Odisha is shameful and horrendous. The Chief Minister should take immediate action against the police personnel and all who are trying to shield the criminals in police uniform," he stated.

Everyone Must listen to Ankita Pradhan, Fiancée of Army officer, Daughter of Rtd Army Officer- What happened to her in PS Bharatpur in #Odisha is shameful and horrendous. @CMO_Odisha should take immediate action against the police personnel and all who are trying to shield the…

— Gen VK Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) September 20, 2024

Several Army veterans took to social media, voicing their concerns about the alleged mistreatment. Retired Major Gaurav Arya called for Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s intervention, posted, "Odisha police misbehaved with an Army officer and that in itself is a crime. That they grossly mistreated, humiliated, and tortured a lady also... there is no forgiveness for this."

Similarly, retired Major General Harsha Kakar condemned the Odisha Police, accusing them of "protecting molesters, bribe takers, crooked police, and abusers of women," adding that the Army's potential protest could bring the nation to a standstill.

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

Odisha 'Custodial Assault' Case: Police and Retired Officials Question Couple's Conduct

In contrast, retired police officers have raised questions about the couple's actions on the night of the incident. Former CBI Director M Nageswara Rao, reacting to VK Singh's remarks, defended the Odisha Police, alleging that the Army officer and his fiancée were intoxicated and caused a scene at the police station. He claimed that the couple had consumed alcohol and were involved in a brawl with engineering students before arriving at the police station. He further alleged that they refused medical examination and blood tests.

Dear General V K Singh Ji,

In Bhubaneswar city, an Army officer and his fiancée consume 10 pegs of liquor and drive a car in the mid of night around 2 am, indulge in a brawl with engineering students around 2-30 am, and then land up in Bharatpur Police Station creating ruckus… https://t.co/TlJzq6k52Q pic.twitter.com/3AwycGaabW

— M. Nageswara Rao IPS (Retired) (@MNageswarRaoIPS) September 23, 2024

Rao urged VK Singh to reconsider his stance, stating, "It is not done that you, having been a Chief of Army Staff and later a Central Minister, jumped to conclusion and castigated Odisha Police for the drunken brawl and uncouth behaviour of an Army officer and his fiancée, and Odisha Police officers were not even at fault."

Rao, while asserting the police's respect for the military, called on the Army to discipline the officer for his "conduct unbecoming of a soldier" and for "besmirching" the reputation of the Indian Army.

In an open letter, the Odisha Retired Police Officers Welfare Association echoed these sentiments, recommending that a course on "behaviour in public and public offices for Army officers" should be introduced to prevent such incidents in the future, The Print reported. The letter stated the claim that the couple were inebriated and the captain drove the car in this condition and further alleged that the women had misbehaved and abused some engineering students while in the car.

“The young engineering students will be forwarded to court under your pressure and their future will be ruined because of the high-handed behaviour of the girlfriend,” the letter stated while it also recommended that a course on “behaviour in public and public offices for the Army officers not to show high-handedness and abide by the law of the land” should be added. 

The army officer and his fiancee on Monday met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, a day after the BJP government ordered a judicial probe into the alleged police assault. According to news agency PTI, the woman’s father was also present at the meeting which took place at the state secretariat in the morning.

Speaking to reporters, the father of the woman said, “We had urged the Odisha government for a judicial inquiry and it has agreed. We welcome the decision and thank the CM for this.”