BJD calls six-hour Bhubaneswar shutdown over 'assault' of Army officer, fiancee

Bhubaneswar: The opposition BJD called Bhubaneswar shutdown on Tuesday, protesting the alleged assault of an Army officer and his fiancee in police custody.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo said the hartal will be held for six hours from 6 am till noon.

BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said, "Our party president, Naveen Patnaik, is shocked over the incident. The custodial torture and sexual assault incident has shamed Odisha. The bandh will be observed to intensify the protest against police brutality. After much discussion, we have decided to call for the six-hour bandh in Bhubaneswar." Patnaik on Friday demanded a court-monitored SIT probe and a judicial inquiry into the matter.

The BJD has also submitted a memorandum addressed to President Dorupadi Murmu and sought her intervention.

The Army officer and his fiancee were allegedly assaulted when they went to the Bharatpur police station to lodge a complaint after they were harassed in an incident of road rage.

The fiancee claimed she was sexually abused after being arrested by the police who alleged she misbehaved with on-duty officers. She also alleged that the Army officer was illegally detained and tortured.