Orissa HC grants bail to army officer’s companion, criticises police action

Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra observed that the police officers failed to follow the procedure laid down in section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita

Published on: Sep 18, 2024, 21:52:37 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneswar: The Orissa high court on Wednesday granted bail to the female companion of an Indian Army officer arrested over the weekend in Bhubaneswar and ordered the state government to act with the allegation of police atrocities in this context with utmost seriousness.

Five police officers involved in the case were suspended by the Odisha DGP earlier in the day.

Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra granted bail to the woman, observing that the police officers who arrested her failed to follow the procedure laid down in section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) which spells out the conditions and circumstances when a police officer may arrest a person without an order from a magistrate.

“The higher authorities of the state, as well as the police administration, would take action as suggested in the SC judgment of Satender Kumar Antil vs Central Bureau of Investigation,” the high court said and advised the police to focus on gaining the trust of people.

The army officer posted in West Bengal and his friend had approached the Bharatpur police station on Sunday early morning to lodge a complaint of road rage in which they were allegedly harassed by some local youths. What happened at the police station is unclear. But the police personnel are alleged to have assaulted the army officer and his friend. The woman was later also arrested.

State police officers initially sought to defend the police action on September 15 before the state CID was ordered to take over the investigation on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Odisha director general of police YB Khurania suspended five police officers identified as inspector Dinakrushna Mishra, woman sub inspector Baisalini Panda, woman assistant sub-inspectors Salilamayee Sahoo and Sagarika Rath and constable Balaram Hansda.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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