An incident of molestation inside a Bhubaneswar police station has sent shockwaves across the country and caused outrage among the Fauji fraternity

A most despicable and obnoxious incident has taken place in Bhubaneswar, which till the incident occurred was believed to be the safest place for people especially women. The incident involving molestation inside a police station of an Army veteran's daughter and a serving officer's fiancé has caused a turmoil within the community of the uniformed forces, which the government would find difficult to douse.

The task has become more difficult with the IT Cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its troll soldiers adding fuel to the fire. Social media influencer Rishi Bagree, known outpost of the IT Cell, posted some videos of the incident trying to put the blame on victim for inviting outrage of her modesty by the cops.

While this video may have had thumps up from the IT Cell followers but it has further added to the anger within the Fauji (defence) community.

A video released on the Daughter's Day last Sunday by a Fauji daughter and film-maker Nidhie Sharma, admonished likes of Bagree on micro blog platform X saying, “Those who're outraged by the 'overconfident, arrogant' Army Daughter; who've convinced themselves she deserved to be assaulted, molested and flashed inside a police station because she dared the cops to do their job, and those what are now character assassinating her, need to know this. Fauji kids are no pushovers! And nor is the Fauji Fraternity. We stand together today.”

The tweet has garnered more than 42K views. More damaging for the establishment is the fact that it has been circulated in the several thousand WhatsApp groups of the Fauji community, where the pain of a Fauji child being first molested and then berated is being severally expressed.

It's time for the people in the position of power, who may be yet to realise the angst the incident has caused among people in general and the Faujis in particular, to put their ears to the ground. The degree of anger is particularly high among the young officers and the armed forces brass has been working overtime to assuage the hurt feelings.

The petition before the Chief Justice of Odisha High Court was filed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Madhya Bharat Area, who on learning about the incident travelled from his headquarters in Madhya Pradesh to the Bhubaneswar for the purpose. This shows the enormity of concern which the brass had following the knowledge of the anger seething through the rank and file of armed forces.

In an extra-ordinary move to reach out the rank and file, a message purported to have been released by the GOC was also circulated through the various WhatsApp groups explaining the course of action and the relief it brought for the harassed officer and his fiancé, including grant of bail by Odisha High Court. The message also gave the information that the police did its best to not let bail be listed for hearing and the High Court judge pulled up the Deputy Registrar for the oversight. This must have reassured the young officers.

However, this outreach initiative of the Army brass to keep the simmering anger under control would be thwarted if the IT Cell of the ruling party is left to its whims and fancies. Remember them calling the agitating farmers anti-nationals and terrorists. What did it end in, BJP being routed not just in Punjab assembly polls but all the farmer dominated seat in north India during the last Lok Sabha polls.

The Bhubaneswar incident came just a few days after the equally despicable incident in Indore. Earlier this month, two Army officers and their women friends were assaulted by six person at a picnic spot near Mhow cantonment. One of the women friends was also gang raped.

Though swift action followed and police arrested the alleged accused, what made the Fauj angry was the local Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police announcing that a departmental enquiry has been ordered against the officers too. Why should police speak for an internal matter of the Army?

These incidents are adding to the long fermenting anger caused by the unresolved issues of one-rank-one-pension, Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Agneepath scheme and pay disparity among others. While the Narendra Modi government has emphasized national security and military prowess in its public messaging, many Indian Army officers feel that their professional concerns, particularly related to pay, promotions, and long-term welfare, have not been adequately addressed.

This has created a growing sense of disillusionment among the officer cadre. The government must realise that this disillusionment could get critical if its social media handles promote trolling of the Fauji families falling victim to civilian callousness. The government has lost faith of the Kisans, it should not lose trust of the Jawans.

(Sidharth Mishra is author & president Centre for Reforms, Development and Justice; views expressed are personal)