18 harassment cases against women police registered in 3 years: Odisha CM
Bhubaneswar, Dec 1
Amid concerns over rising crimes against women in Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday said that 18 cases of harassment against women police personnel have been registered in the last three years, from 2023 to September 2025.
CM Majhi revealed the information while answering a query asked by Senior BJD MLA Pratap Keshari Deb in the Odisha Assembly on Monday.
These cases involve incidents reported in various police stations and offices across Balangir, Sundargarh, Rourkela, Rayagada, Keonjhar, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Boudh, Bhubaneswar, and Balasore.
The Chief Minister also told the house that strict legal action has been taken against all accused individuals involved in the said cases.
The Chief Minister outlined several measures that have been implemented to ensure a safe working environment for women in police establishments, including regular briefing and sensitisation of staff regarding conduct rules and workplace norms, mandatory formation of Internal Complaints Committees at all police stations and offices under the POSH Act, Comprehensive CCTV surveillance and necessary infrastructure enhancements for security.
He said that all cases of violence against women personnel are treated as special cases and monitored by senior district officers.
The Odisha Government has also imparted the women staff gender-sensitisation training, built separate restrooms and toilet facilities to ensure a safe working environment.
Similarly, strict anti-harassment policies, maternity and childcare benefits, and grievance redressal mechanisms are also in place at police stations and offices.
Interestingly, an Odisha Police Subedar was arrested in October this year on the charges of sexually exploiting a woman sub-inspector (SI) after allegedly assuring her of marriage.
A total of 40,947 cases of crimes against women have been registered in Odisha, as compared to 40,771 cases registered between April 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is shameful. The police are supposed to protect us, especially women. If our own protectors are facing harassment inside the force, what hope do common citizens have? Strict action must be taken, no matter the rank of the accused. Jai Hind.
The POSH committees and CCTV are positive steps. But the real test is whether women feel safe enough to file complaints without fear of career backlash. The case of the Subedar shows the problem is very real. Hope the monitoring by senior officers is genuine.
Respect to CM Majhi for being transparent about the numbers in the assembly. It's a start. But alongside punishment, we need a change in mindset. Gender-sensitisation training for ALL staff, not just women, is crucial. The 'boys club' culture in some police stations must end.
Separate toilets and maternity benefits are basic rights, not perks. It's sad that these are being listed as achievements. The focus should be on creating an environment of zero tolerance. Every single case must be investigated swiftly and the findings made public.
The article mentions over 40,000 cases against women in Odisha. That's the broader, terrifying context. While internal police cases are important, the government's energy must also be directed at protecting women across society. Law enforcement integrity is the first step.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.