Odisha Assault Case: Opposition BJD, Congress stage protest against custodial torture’ on Army Major, fiancee; BJP hits back

Politics heated up in Odisha over the alleged assault of Major Gurvansh Singh, an Indian Army officer of the Sikh Regiment, and sexual harassment of his fiancee at Bharatpur Police Station with Opposition BJD and Congress hitting the streets in Bhubaneswar on Saturday demanding action against the accused cops.

Members of the BJD women’s wing staged a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan in the Capital City in protest against the police atrocity. They held a meeting and shouted slogans against BJP by terming the government responsible for this kind of situation in the State.

“We want to make people aware that BJP is a weak government and they are not able to run the government. They are saying that they have taken action by suspending some police officials. However, suspension is never a punishment,” said BJD leader Lekhashree Samantsinghar.

Meanwhile, Yuva Congress workers were prevented by the police forces while they were trying to gherao the official residence of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi. In response, some of the agitators tried to move ahead by climbing the barricades put up by the police. Some other protestors hurled eggs and tomatoes.

“Suspension is not a punishment. Crime against women has increased during the 100 days of governance of BJP. The way the Indian Army Major’s fiancée was tortured by police is not at all acceptable by a civilized society. The police officials should be arrested immediately. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi should tender his resignation on moral ground,” said a protesting Yuva Congress leader.

In response, BJP rapped BJD and Congress for trying to take political advantage of the incident.

“Crime against women had reached the peak and culprits were left scot-free due to political patronage during the tenure of BJD. Now, BJD and Naveen Patnaik are pointing fingers towards others which is quite unfortunate,” said BJP leader Anil Biswal.

“We condemn the incident at Bharatpur police station and action against the police officials has already been taken. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has also made it clear that more actions will be taken after the investigation. The matter should not be politicized,” he added.

“BJD and Congress should look at the mirror regarding what they have done during their tenures. No action was taken in Kunduli case during the tenure of BJD. When the then BJD’s Dalit Cell head Bishnu Das gave a report that Kunduli victim was raped after visiting the spot, he was removed from Rajya Sabha membership,” said BJP spokesperson Manoj Mohapatra.

“Where were the women leaders of BJD when Mamita Meher’s bones were only found during the tenure of Naveen Patnaik? BJD and Congress have governed Odisha for 50 years. However, they have given nothing to the State, rather they have looted it. When the law and order situation has completely deteriorated in the State, it could not be changed within 100 days. It will take time. What happened to the judicial inquiry of Kalinganagar incident in which palms of 13 tribals were cut during the tenure of Naveen Patnaik government? No action was taken against the culprits. Naveen Patnaik and Congress are in one bus in which Naveen is in the driver’s seat and Congress is playing the role of a helper. After BJD, Congress is now demanding a judicial inquiry. Keep patience. Exemplary actions will be taken against the culprits,” he added.