Odisha: Army officer's friend alleges sexual harassment by police after arrest
Bhubaneswar (PTI): The woman friend of an Army officer, who was arrested in Bhubaneswar for allegedly misbehaving with the police, claimed that she was sexually harassed after being taken into custody.
The woman, arrested by personnel of the Bharatpur Police Station on September 15, was on Thursday released on bail granted by the high court.
Speaking to reporters, the woman said she was returning home with her friend, the Army officer, after closing her restaurant late at night when some men allegedly misbehaved with them.
Following that, they went to the Bharatpur Police Station to seek help, she said.
"When we reached the police station to lodge a complaint, a woman constable was there in civil dress. We approached her to lodge our complaint and send a patrol vehicle to arrest the miscreants. Instead of helping us, she abused me," the woman alleged.
The woman, who is at present undergoing treatment at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, said some more personnel arrived at the police station and asked her friend to write a complaint.
"I don't know what happened, they put him in the lockup. When I raised the voice that they cannot put an Army officer in custody as it is unlawful, two female officers started physically assaulting me," she alleged.
The woman said she tried to fight back and bit on the hand of female police personnel when she tried to get hold of her neck.
The police personnel then put her in a room after tying her hands and legs, she alleged.
"After some time, a male officer opened the doors and kicked on my breasts several times. He lowered down my pants and his as well. Showing his private part, he asked me how much time you want to remain silent," she alleged.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, the National Commission for Women sought an action taken report from the DGP.
"A formal letter has been sent to the DGP, requesting an action taken report within 3 days. Urgent disciplinary action is expected," the NCW posted on X.
Meanwhile, a case was registered at the Chandaka Police Station against unidentified persons who allegedly misbehaved with the Army officer and the woman.
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Airlines got 999 hoax bomb threats till Nov 14 this year; 256 FIRs filed: Govt
New Delhi, Nov 28: Airlines received 999 hoax bomb threats this year till November 14 and as many as 256 FIRs have been filed while guidelines have been issued by aviation security regulator BCAS for objective assessment of threats, the government said on Thursday.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said a total of 1,148 hoax bomb threat messages/calls have been received since August 2022 till November 14, 2024 threatening the operations of international and domestic air travel.
While 999 threats were received by airlines during the period from January to November 14, 2024, the count stood at 122 last year and at 27 for the August-December 2022 period.
"256 FIRs have been filed since January 2024 till 14 November 2024, out of which 163 FIRs have been filed during 14 October- 14 November 2024. 12 arrests have been made in view of hoax bomb threat since January 2024 till 14 November 2024," the minister said.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has issued guidelines for objective assessment of threats. The indicative factor has been useful in reducing time taken by the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) during the decision-making process.
"Also, to reduce the overall time taken for convening BTAC to less than 5 minutes, virtual assembly of BTAC through pre-generated video link has been set up. Further, advisories for compulsory 10 per cent of secondary ladder point check-in for all flights, strict monitoring of non-scheduled flight operations, enhanced security measures and surveillance at cargo terminals were issued," Mohol said.
Further, the minister said the government is considering amending the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023 to put hoax threat messenger in the no-fly list.
"It is also being considered to amend Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation for covering Aircraft in flight as well as on ground, airport etc," he added.
