Odisha Assault Case: Indian Army vs Odisha Police: Alleged custodial torture of Army Major and his fiancee sparks online war

The alleged torture of an Indian Army officer and the sexual assault of his fiancee by five cops at Bharatpur police station in Odisha has triggered outrage among Army veterans and retired IPS officers.

While Army Veterans including General VK Singh, expressed shock and termed the incident ‘shameful and horrendous’, retired IPS officers have come out in support of the suspended cops and questioned the behaviour of the Major and his fiancee.

The allegations and counter-allegations have sparked an online war between Army veterans and police personnel, particularly on social media.

What Army Personnel Say:

Commenting on the issue, former Army chief general and ex-Union Minister VK Singh demanded immediate action against the police personnel and all those who are trying to shield ‘the criminals in police uniform’.

“Everyone must listen to the fiancee, of the Army officer, daughter of Rtd army Officer – What happened to her in PS Bharatpur in Odisha is shameful and horrendous. Odisha CM should take immediate action against the police personnel and all who are trying to shield the criminal in police uniform,” he tweeted.

Similarly, Major Gaurav Arya (Retired) urged Rajnath Singh to intervene and tweeted, “The policemen who did this need to go to jail and their senior leadership held to account. Rajnath Singh 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 with an Army officer and that in itself is a crime. That they grossly mistreated, humiliated and tortured a lady, there is no forgiveness for this,” he added.

Similarly, Major General Harsha Kakar shared, “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 organisations involved in ensuring security. Cheap tactics.”

Similarly, many other Army veterans voiced their concerns on social media platforms and demanded stringent action against the ‘errant’ cops.

What Police Personnel Say:

On the other hand, the Odisha Retired Police Officers Welfare Association called out the Army Major and his couple for being drunk and ‘drunk driving’. Former CBI director M Nageswara Rao, through a tweet, said that it was not right to castigate the Odisha Police.

“In Bhubaneswar city, an Army officer and his fiancee consume 10 pegs of liquor and driver a car in the mid of night around 2 am, indulge in brawl with engineering students, and then land up in Bharatpur police station creating ruckus, so much so that the PS staff had to seek help of PCR. When sent to hospital for medical examination and blood test which is the standard protocol of investigation, they refused,” Rao tweeted.

He further replied to VK Singh’s tweet and wrote, “Sir, we the Indian Police, respect and honour our Military because that is the last resort in defending the country from external enemies. A reciprocation from the Military towards Police which defends the country from internal enemies, is a normal expectation. Our work is complementary as we together protect the country from within and without.”

“Sir, 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 fiancee, and Odisha Police officers were not even at fault,” he added.

The Odisha Retired Police Officers Welfare Association also made similar allegations in an open letter.