Assam: DDSA suspends absconding doctor over “child abuse” case

Dibrugarh:  Dibrugarh District Sports Association (DDSA) on Saturday suspended DDSA president Dr. Debajit Dutta from the post of president after his wife was arrested for allegedly physically torturing their minor housemaid for quite some time.

On April 20, in a meeting held at the DDSA office, the office bearers of DDSA have decided to suspend Dr. Dutta from the post of president.

Dutta has been absconding after the arrest of his wife Boby Kalita. Boby Kalita was arrested on April 14 by Dibrugarh police after a case has been registered at Dibrugarh police station.

“On April 12, Dr. Debajit Dutta and his wife Boby Kalita came to our office. After they stepped outside our office, the wife of Dr. Debajit Dutta was picked up by police. When we went to Dibrugarh police station, we learned that Boby Kalita was arrested and his husband has been absconding,” said a member of the Child Welfare Committee(CWC), Dibrugarh.

According to the member, the minor girl was brutally tortured and sometimes they locked her in the room and went to Guwahati.

“The victim told us that she was brutally tortured by the wife of Dr. Dutta and when he complained to Dr. Dutta he didn't bother to listen. After knowing everything he kept quiet. The girl doesn't even know her address properly. She only told me that she was brought by someone,” said the member.

Case No. 136/2024  under section 352/342/326/374/506/34 of the IPC and section 75/79 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and 2014 Amended Child Labour Act, 1986 was registered at Dibrugarh police station.

“After so many days, why Dr. Dutta has not been arrested? His wife was arrested and he was not arrested at that time. How could he manage to run away,” said a senior citizen.

Additional superintendent of police (crime) Sizal Agarwal said, “Dr. Dutta has been absconding. We are trying our best to find out the whereabouts of him. As per law, we will take action.”

According to reports, the doctor had ‘purchased’ the girl who is from the neighbouring state of Arunachal Pradesh in 2013 from a person and since then the girl has been with the couple.

Sources said that it might be a case of human trafficking.

“Many tribal girls were involved in human trafficking after they were lured to good jobs. Most of the girls were trafficked from Arunachal Pradesh. A human trafficking network has been working and supplying girls to other states in the pretext of jobs,” said a source.