Majhi orders judicial probe into Army officer’s custodial ‘torture’

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged torture of an Army officer and the “sexual assault” of his fiancée at a police station here. The state government has appointed a commission of inquiry to be headed by Justice Chittaranjan Dash, a retired High Court judge, an official notification said.

The panel will examine the sequence of events and circumstances, as well as the role, conduct and accountability of individuals and authorities, it said. The report will be filed within 60 days. “The commission will suggest measures to be taken to avoid the recurrence of such events in future and ensuring safety of women,” the notification said.

Meanwhile, the Army officer, his fiancée and her father met Majhi at the state Secretariat here in the morning, an official said. Majhi had on Sunday evening said the Odisha Government was committed to taking strict action against all persons or officials who are found guilty.