Bharatpur PS incident: BJD calls off hartal in Bhubaneswar after govt orders judicial probe

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday called off a six-hour bandh in Bhubaneswar on September 24 after the Odisha government ordered judicial probe into Bharatpur Police Station incident.

This was informed by party’s senior leaders Debi Miashra and Arun Sahoo at a presser held today.

Mohan Majhi-led Odisha government on Sunday ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident in which an Army officer and his fiancée were allegedly manhandled at Bharatpur police station.

The Army officer’s fiancée was allegedly sexually assaulted by on-duty cops while they had gone to file a complaint over a road rage incident on September 15 night.

CM Majhi ordered the probe following a late-night meeting with senior Cabinet colleagues and senior state government officers.

Today, Odisha government issued a gazette notification in this regard.

“This being a matter of serious public importance, should be inquired into
by a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952,” read the gazette notification.

Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash, Retired High Court Judge, has been appointed to enquire into and report in respect of the following matters within 60 days.