Guwahati: Seven persons linked to a Guwahati bar-cum-restaurant, including its manager, were taken into custody on Saturday in connection with the alleged assault and partial stripping of a woman at the premises following a drunken altercation, police said.
The action came after Dispur Police registered a case on their own initiative and began probing the incident, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Friday. A video purportedly showing the assault at The Locals Bar-cum-Restaurant in Khanapara spread widely on social media on October 2, prompting the investigation.
CCTV Evidence Cited
Police said they reviewed the available CCTV footage during the inquiry. According to them, the recordings showed the woman being attacked by a group inside the bar at around 2.30 am.
The footage further indicated that she was pulled towards the basement by her hair and clothes, where she was assaulted once more and appeared to lose consciousness partially, police said.
The establishment’s permitted closing time was 12.30 am, but investigators found that it had remained operational well beyond that limit. Police also said the management did not report the incident to the local police station.
Case And Arrests
The FIR has been registered under Sections 61(2), 117(2), 74, 75, 109 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Those arrested are aged between 21 and 30 and include three women. Besides the bar manager, the event manager and a front-office executive are among the accused.
Police identified them as bar manager Justin D Areng, 28; event manager Nikebur Zaman Sarkar, alias Nikebur Zaman Sardar, alias Roman, 30; and front-office executive Jhumpa Sinha, 23. The remaining accused are Usha Devi, 22; Manju Das, 26; Gourav Mahanta, 21; and Dino Sona, 21, as reported by The Statesman.
“Necessary legal action has been taken against all the arrested persons,” police said.
Investigators said several persons allegedly involved in the attack were connected with the bar’s management or staff. The probe is now focused on establishing the full sequence of events and determining the specific role of each accused.
Police added that the investigation would also examine why the establishment was functioning beyond its permitted hours and whether additional violations come to light.