Assam: Female patient allegedly assaulted in rehabilitation centre in Guwahati

A female patient at a rehabilitation centre in Guwahati, Assam, was allegedly assaulted by the owner of the centre on Thursday night.

As per reports, the incident took place at the Srishti Wellness Centre, a rehabilitation facility in the Hengarabari area of Guwahati.

Following the reports of the alleged assault, the Assam Rehab Association filed a complaint with the Dispur Police Station.

According to the allegations, the centre’s owner, Barnali Baishya Medhi, physically assaulted a female patient, reportedly under the influence of "drugs and alcohol" at night.

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The victim, a female patient, was allegedly beaten and subjected to further mistreatment, including having her hair forcibly shaved. Additionally, it is claimed that Medhi recorded private videos of the female patient and threatened to make them viral. 

Some of the patients in the centre claimed that they were not provided with beds and were forced to sleep on the floor on a bare mattress.

The Assam Rehab Association was informed of the incident via a phone call from a distressed patient.

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Following the filing of the complaint, Dispur Police launched an operation and detained Barnali Baishya Medhi, the owner of the rehabilitation centre.

Officials from the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment have also visited the site to investigate the matter.

The allegations have raised serious concerns about the treatment of vulnerable patients at the facility, prompting calls for stricter oversight of rehabilitation centres.