Odisha Assault Case: Crime Branch intensifies investigation at ground zero; PSOs accorded to Army officer, fiancée

A team of officers from the Crime Branch on Wednesday revisited ground zero to intensify the probe into the assault of an Indian Army officer and the sexual assault on his fiancee at the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar.

The team visited the Bharatpur police station to recreate the scene. The officials also visited the Pathargadia area where the couple was allegedly misbehaved, groped, and assaulted by seven engineering students of two private colleges.

The Army officer and his fiancee will also join the Crime Branch to recreate the whole incident.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government has provided security to the army officer and his fiancee. Personal security officers (PSO) were engaged for the two following a decision of the state government, a senior officer of the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate of Police said.

The officer said that the PSOs would accompany them when they travel in the city. Both the army officer and his finance have accepted the PSOs provided by the government.

The step came a day after the army officer and the woman, along with her father and some ex-army men, met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at the state secretariat. During her meeting with Majhi, the alleged sexual assault victim said that she could face threats because of the case.

Worth mentioning, the alleged incident took place on September 15 when the army officer and his fiancee went to Bharatpur police station to lodge a complaint on road rage in which they were allegedly harassed by some local youths.

The state government has placed five police personnel under suspension and ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.