Sexual harassment of women in police stations, anger is growing in India
September 25, 20243 Mins Read

International Desk: The people of India were shocked when an army officer and his fiancee were beaten and sexually harassed inside a police station in the BJP-ruled Odisha state. The statement of the victim came out last Friday. There he claimed that inside the police station he was stripped of his underwear and repeatedly kicked on his chest, the IC of the police station showed his genitals. Already 5 police personnel including the officer-in-charge of the concerned police station have been dismissed in this incident.

Incidentally, on September 15, an army officer and his fiancee were allegedly beaten and sexually assaulted at Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar. On Thursday, the victim got bail on the orders of the Odisha High Court. The victim described how she was tortured inside the police station lockup soon after getting bail. The woman, a lawyer by profession, runs a restaurant. They were accused of assaulting a woman police officer. After that they were arrested and taken to the police station.

The victim complained, 'Inspector-in-charge crossed all limits of brutality. He made obscene gestures at me.' The victim alleged that the police framed him in a false case and arrested him to save himself. The police tied his hands and feet with rope and threw him in a room. There, a male officer verbally abuses her. She further alleged, 'A male police officer came and removed my underwear and kicked my chest repeatedly.'

He further said, 'Later, the inspector in-charge arrived at around 6 am. He is also extremely abusive.' The victim says, 'Inspector-in-charge pushed me, threatened me and made obscene gestures. He unbuttoned his pants and made obscene gestures showing his private parts. Tell me you want to have sex with me. He also molested me.'

The army officer said that he was detained illegally in the lock-up from 3 am to 6 am. He complained that the Inspector-in-charge reached the police station around 6 am. He was also harassed when he asked the police officer for the reason for his arrest. She alleged that the police officer harassed and molested her fiancé. She could hear her fiance screaming for 30 minutes.

However, police personnel denied all allegations of victimization. However, the crime branch of Odisha Police is investigating the incident after this complaint was made. After this incident, a big question has been raised about the safety of women in BJP-ruled Odisha. Where a woman is sexually assaulted within the police station, who will protect them across the state? On this day, Congress spokesperson Supriya Sreene said in Delhi, 'What is happening in Odisha and that too with a woman who is herself a lawyer and the fiancee of an army man. Such disrespect to a woman inside the police station. Why these incidents happen in BJP-ruled states? Why are women victims of cruelty and brutality in BJP-ruled states?'

Since then, many in India have taken to social media to express their anger against alleged police brutality. Many former and serving army officers shared the viral video of the woman and pledged their support in her fight as her father is a retired army brigadier. The Indian Army also wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court saying that 'a serving officer was kept in custody without charge for almost 14 hours' and 'due to grave incidents… his dignity was degraded'. 'The honor and dignity of his fiancee, who happens to be the daughter of a retired brigadier, was grossly undermined by the police authorities,' the letter added.

The state government said it 'respects the Indian Army' and is 'concerned about the dignity, safety and rights of women'. It has nominated retired Justice Chitta Ranjan Das to investigate and submit a report within 60 days. Crime Branch officer Narendra Behera told the media that the woman's allegations are being investigated and her statement has been recorded. Seven people accused of harassing the couple were arrested by the police and later released on bail. Source: BBC