Bhubaneswar, Nov 14: An Indian Army officer and his fiancée, who allege they were harassed by a group of youths and then subjected to physical and psychological torture at the Bharatpur police station, appeared today before a judicial commission investigating the alleged custodial abuse.

Sources indicate that a lawyer representing the students accused of harassing the Major and his fiancée also attended the hearing, which is being led by retired High Court Judge Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash. Meanwhile, suspended Inspector In-Charge Dinakrushna Mishra and four other police personnel involved in the case did not appear personally, instead opting to have their lawyers represent them.

The commission has summoned 16 people to provide testimony, although it will only start reviewing their statements after verifying the over 500 affidavits submitted in relation to the Bharatpur Police Station case. This investigation is part of a larger probe into alleged police misconduct, following claims that the officer, linked to the 22nd Sikh Regiment in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, and his fiancée faced abuse by police on September 15. The couple had gone to the station to report a road rage incident but were reportedly assaulted by police officials instead.

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