Cuttack: Amid national outrage following the alleged assault of an Army officer and his fiancée, the Orissa High Court has instructed the state government to establish a standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding appropriate conduct with defence personnel at police stations.
During the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) related to the incident at Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar, the court expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of CCTV cameras in 13 police stations.
ADG of Police (Modernisation) Dayal Gangwar, who personally appeared before the court, assured that the installation of CCTV cameras in these stations would be completed within 15 days. Additionally, a Video Management System (VMS), allowing the Superintendent of Police to monitor footage from all stations, would also be operational within the same period.
Previously, the Odisha government had revealed that 57 police stations lacked CCTV cameras. Gangwar also confirmed that an SOP for appropriate behaviour towards Army personnel would be issued soon, with efforts underway to define the guidelines.
The next hearing is scheduled for November 12, 2024.
In a related matter, the High Court declined to entertain a petition filed by a family member of one of the suspended police officers regarding media statements made by the woman victim. The court noted that the woman had been advised against speaking to the media for her dignity, and her comments to news outlets did not constitute contempt of court.
