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BHUBANESHWAR/NEW DELHI – In a swift response to serious allegations of misconduct, five police personnel from Bharatpur Police Station in Bhubaneswar have been suspended following a complaint lodged by Captain Gurvansh Singh Gosal, an officer from the Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army.
The complaint, which has gained significant attention on social media, details harrowing accounts of illegal detention, severe assault, and sexual harassment by police officers. According to Captain Gosal, he and his lady friend arrived at Bharatpur Police Station in the early hours of September 15 to file a complaint against a group of miscreants who had assaulted them. Instead of registering their complaint, the police allegedly detained Captain Gosal and subjected him to harassment. His female friend, a lawyer, was reportedly physically and sexually assaulted by multiple police officers.
The complaint further alleges that Captain Gosal was locked in a cell and stripped of his belongings, while his fiancée was brutally assaulted by both male and female officers, including the station’s Sub-Inspector in charge. The situation reportedly escalated when the Inspector-in-Charge arrived, with Captain Gosal hearing his fiancée’s screams for 30 minutes as she was being assaulted.
Following legal proceedings, Captain Gosal’s fiancée was granted bail by the High Court on September 18. Subsequently, Captain Gosal filed an official complaint with the Additional Director General of Police, CID Crime Branch, in Cuttack, demanding action against the accused officers.
In response to these grave allegations, the Odisha Police have suspended five personnel: Inspector Dinakrushna Mishra, Sub-Inspector Baisalini Panda, WASI Salilamayee Sahoo, WASI Sagarika Rath, and Constable Balaram Hansda. The suspension order cited gross misconduct and stated that the suspension was necessary in the interest of public service.
“During the suspension period, the officers will remain under the disciplinary control of the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, and will receive subsistence allowance (SA) and dearness allowance (DA) as per the Odisha Service Code,” read the suspension order.
This incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for greater accountability within the police force. The Odisha Police Department has assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted to ensure justice is served.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of allegations made by an Army officer and his lady friend regarding their “custodial abuse” by Odisha Police. “A formal letter has been sent to the DGP, requesting an action taken report within three days,” the NCW said on social media platform ‘X’ calling for urgent disciplinary action in this matter.
The National Commission for Women takes suo motu cognisance of allegations made by an Army officer and his lady friend regarding their custodial abuse by Odisha Police. A formal letter has been sent to the DGP, requesting an action taken report within 3 days. Urgent disciplinary…
— NCW (@NCWIndia) September 17, 2024
