52 Police Stations in Odisha Lacked CCTV Cameras Until September 15: IPS Officer Informs High Court

Cuttack, October 9, 2024: At least 52 police stations in Odisha were operating without CCTV cameras as of September 15, an IPS officer informed the Odisha High Court during a hearing on Tuesday. The disclosure came in the context of a controversial case involving an alleged assault on an army officer and his fiancée at Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar.

The incident, which has stirred significant public outcry, occurred when the couple visited the police station to lodge a road rage complaint. They were allegedly harassed by a group of youths, and the situation reportedly escalated inside the police station. The army officer was allegedly “tortured,” while his fiancée faced “sexual assault.”

Due to the absence of CCTV cameras at Bharatpur police station, the authorities were unable to immediately verify the sequence of events or how the situation reached such a critical point. The lack of CCTV surveillance has raised concerns over police accountability and transparency, especially in sensitive cases involving violence or harassment.

The Odisha High Court is currently examining the issue, and the state government is under pressure to ensure the installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations across the state to prevent such incidents in the future.