Nationwide outrage over custodial abuse pushes Majhi government into damage control mode

The alleged custodial abuse of an Army officer and the sexual harassment of his fiancée at a Bhubaneswar police station sparked nationwide outrage, pushing the Mohan Majhi government in Odisha into damage control mode on Friday. ‘Shaken the conscience’ Early in the day, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “the way an Army Major and a lady were treated in Bharatpur police station is shocking and beyond comprehension. The manner in which police have allegedly treated them has shaken the conscience of the country.” With the situation going out of control, the Odisha Chief Minister reacted, saying, “The Government has taken a very serious view of the alleged misbehaviour and assault on the serving Army officer and the woman accompanying him inside the Bharatpur police station. Shekhawat, General Officer Commanding, Madhya Bharat Area, said, “The prestige of a serving Army officer and dignity of his fiancée, who also happens to be the daughter of a retired Brigadier, was grossly outraged by police authorities.” “They not only humiliated the lady but also molested her and also disrespected an Army officer by putting him under custody without any charge for almost 14 hours.