“These incidents happening across nation…needs to clear this mess”: RJD MP Manoj Jha on Odisha assault case

New Delhi [India], September 22 (ANI): After the alleged assault of an Army officer and his fiancee at the Bharatpur Police Station in Bhubaneswar, RJD MP Manoj Jha on Sunday said that these kinds of incidents are happening across the nation and everyone “needs to work to clear this mess.”

Speaking on the alleged assault, Jha said, “These kinds of incidents are happening across the nation…These kinds of incidents should not be viewed through a political lens…Everyone needs to work to clear this mess.”

Earlier in the day, the District Court granted bail to all the seven accused in the alleged assault case of the Army officer and his fiancee at Chandaka Road in Odisha’s Bhubaneshwar.

The Odisha police had arrested seven people on Thursday after the incident took place reportedly on September 15, when the couple were returning from a hotel late at night.

Krushna Prasad Dash, Additional DCP, Bhubaneswar, told ANI that they have registered a case under several sections of the BNS.”During the investigation, we have recovered a vehicle and 11 mobile phones from the accused. Seven of them have been arrested, and they have been forwarded to the court. We have also recovered a video and audio clip and are examining the same,” he said.

“The arrested accused are Rakesh Naik, Abhilash Sawant, Aman Kumar, Aditya Ranjan Behra, Akash Padhiyari, Harish Manta, and Ashish Kumar. Further investigation is underway,” Additional DCP Dash added.

The incident reportedly took place on September 15 when the Army Major and the woman went to the Bharatpur police station to complain against some miscreants, who had harassed them while returning from a hotel late at night. Instead of addressing their concerns, the police allegedly tortured the Major and the woman, even sending her to jail without any justification.

The Odisha government reiterated its ‘zero tolerance’ policy on violence against women on Friday and initiated an inquiry into the matter.

The Chief Minister’s Office issued a statement saying that necessary steps and departmental actions have been taken regarding the issue.