Digboi: A reported assault on a woman employee near the entry–exit gate of Digboi Refinery has raised questions about security arrangements, police procedure, and the safety of women working in sensitive areas.
The incident reportedly took place around 9:40 PM on Friday when Momi Das, a contractual employee, was returning from duty on her scooty. Eyewitnesses said she was intercepted along the refinery road by a group of suspected contractual workers, including some drivers. She was allegedly physically assaulted near the refinery gate, a location that is usually guarded.
Home Guards and on-duty CISF personnel are normally stationed near the gate, and an Army camp is located about 300 meters from the site. Whether security personnel intervened during the incident is unclear, as no official statement had been issued at the time of reporting.
According to hospital sources in Digboi, Momi Das was brought in for medical examination around 10:15 PM on Friday. Three suspected individuals were brought to the hospital around 11:30 PM for medical formalities, suggesting that police action began shortly after the incident.
Family members of the victim stated that the three suspected accused were allowed to return home after medical examination. As of publication, Digboi Police Station had not clarified whether the individuals were detained, formally arrested, or released pending further investigation.
An FIR was lodged on Friday night by the victim’s husband, formally initiating a criminal investigation.
Momi Das, currently residing in central Digboi and originally from Dhemaji district, has worked as a technician with an AOD ambulance service for nearly four years. Her husband reportedly began work as a reliever two months ago.
Her brother, Abhijit Das, told local media outlet NeNow on Saturday morning that his sister had faced sustained workplace pressure prior to the incident.
He claimed that two union leaders had repeatedly asked her to ensure her husband vacated his temporary position so another candidate could be accommodated.
These allegations could not be independently verified at the time of reporting and are expected to be examined during the ongoing investigation.
Abhijit Das also stated that on Friday evening, while escorting her husband from work, Momi Das was confronted and assaulted by a group. He alleged that she was inappropriately touched during the incident. These claims are included in the FIR and remain under official review.
He is preparing a formal complaint to submit to the Director General of Police in Guwahati, along with a copy of the FIR. He has also sought the intervention of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, requesting immediate action and accountability.
As of press time, refinery management had not issued a statement regarding the incident. Attempts to contact officials reportedly went unanswered. Law enforcement authorities have also not provided public details on the progress of the investigation or the legal status of the suspected accused.
CCTV footage from the refinery is expected to help reconstruct the events. With an FIR registered, medical examinations conducted, and a complaint set to reach the state’s top police authority, the matter is likely to receive closer administrative scrutiny in the coming days.
Further developments are awaited as the investigation continues.