The alleged assault and sexual abuse of an Army officer’s fiancée inside a police station in Bhubaneswar has sparked nationwide outrage and a political storm. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi assured on Friday that the culprits would be given “exemplary punishment.”
It was stated by Majhi that the government never hesitates to take action against wrongdoers, and steps are being taken to ensure stringent punishment for those responsible. The remarks were made during an interaction with reporters in Keonjhar.
A post from the Chief Minister’s Office on X clarified that, due to the sensitivity of the incident, the Crime Branch has been directed to investigate the case immediately and submit a report within a specified timeframe. It was further emphasized that the government has a zero-tolerance policy towards violence against women, with the assurance that no form of harassment will be tolerated.
Opposition parties, including the BJD and Congress, intensified their criticism of the ruling BJP government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, noted that the incident raised serious questions about the nation’s law and order situation. He remarked that crimes against women have become rampant under the BJP government.Former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik called for a full judicial inquiry into the matter.