Bharatpur Case: Identities Of Victims & Accused Not To Be Published, Directs Orissa HC

Cuttack, Sept 23: The Orissa High Court has passed Monday his first order in Bharatpur case -- a Public Interest Litigation -- saying the identities of the victim woman, the army officer as well as the seven accused cannot be published by electronics, print or social media.

The High Court had taken Suo Motu cognizance of the incident that happened at the police station.

In addition, the Orissa HC has said that it will not interfere in the matter as the state government has ordered for a Judicial Inquiry into the matter.

The decision came after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged police brutality with an Army Major and his fiancee at Bhubaneswar's Bharatpur Police station, September 15.

The Orissa HC also ordered the police department to install CCTV cameras in all the police stations saying this is a wake up call for the department.

The next hearing of Orissa HC on this case will take place, October 8.

A Brief On The Case

Reportedly, the Army officer and his fiancee had gone to the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar to lodge a complaint against some 'road romeos' over an incident of road rage during early hours September 15.

An argument ensued between the police and, the Army officer's fiancee at the police station.

The Army officer was allegedly beaten by the on-duty police officials while three female cops dragged his fiancee into a cell.

Some male cops, including the ex-Inspector in charge of the Bharatpur Police Station, reportedly thrashed and molested her at the Bharatpur police station.

As many as five police officials have been placed under suspension by the state police following widespread furore over the incident.

A video of the incident involving the army officer, his fiancee and the road romeos went viral which, to some extent, divided the netizens' views on the matter's development.

Later the seven road romeos were arrested before the District Court granted them bail.

New IIC Takes Charge

Dipak Khandayatray has taken charge of the Bharatpur police station as the new IIC (Inspector in-charge) Monday. Interestingly, a havan was conducted in the police station following the Hindu culture as a mark of an auspicious beginning.

Installation Of CCTV Cameras In Bharatpur PS Gets Underway

Multiple CCTV cameras are being installed at Bharatpur police station to avoid such kind of cases in future.

As many as 25 CCTV cameras will be installed in the police station. The absence of CCTV cameras in a model police station raised many eyebrows.