Bhubaneswar, September 23: Opposition BJD has withdrawn its proposed Bhubaneswar shutdown after Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged torture of an army officer and the alleged sexual assault of his fiancee at a police station here.
The BJD had demanded a judicial probe and court-monitored SIT into the incident, which created a spark across the nation. The BJP government has accepted both the demands of the BJD and also issued notification in this regard.
Speaking to media persons here, BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said the Chief Minister late last night ordered for a judicial probe into the incident and the commission will submit its report in 60 days.
A gazette notification has also been issued on the judicial inquiry this morning. So, the BJD has now announced to withdraw its proposed Bandh on tomorrow, he said.
The Chief Minister, in a press statement, said his government is committed to taking strict action against all persons or officials who are found guilty.
The state government has also requested the Orissa High Court to supervise the investigation being carried out by the Crime Branch of the Odisha Police.
While emphasising on rule of the law, Shri Majhi said his government respects the Indian Army. “The state government is fully concerned about the dignity, safety and rights of women,” the CMO statement said on Sunday evening.
Earlier, the government has suspended five personnel of the Bharatpur police station, and registered a case against them for allegedly torturing the army officer and sexually harassing his fiancee.
The alleged incident took place on September 15 when the army officer posted in West Bengal and his fiancee approached Bharatpur police station to lodge a complaint of road rage in which they were allegedly harassed by some local youths.