Bhabananda Buragohain, who has been admitted to ICU of AOD Hospital. Northeast Now

In an unpleasant development that took place on Sunday late night at AOD’s Santipara area in Digboi, an off-duty AOD employee, Bhabananda Buragohain, was allegedly assaulted by his senior official R Teran, manager at AOD (Power) and utility department during his official engagement at a work place for repairing a transformer.

According to the victim, who is serving Assam Oil Division (AOD) in the capacity of junior engineer (assistant) in the electrical department under power and utility department of AOD, had gone to the working site and asked the officials engaged in the work for restoration of power service in some of the affected areas when the official allegedly assaulted him without any rhyme and reason.

“I fell on the ground and was bleeding, from where I was immediately taken to the civil hospital. Later I was shifted to the ICU at Digboi AOD Hospital,” the victim, who was in the ICU till filing of this report, told.

Meanwhile, the Assam Oil Company Labour Union, reacting strongly to the incident, staged a protest demonstration in front of the AOD Administrative Complex Building here on Monday morning and demanded that disciplinary action be initiated by the AOD management against the erring official.

On the other hand, Minakshi Buragohain, the wife of the victim, condemning the act said that an FIR was lodged at Digboi Police Station in the afternoon.

According to Mahesh Bora, the officer-in-charge, Digboi PS, police are investigating into the case looking into all corners including the circumstances leading to the offence.

However, an AOD official source stated that Buragohain, an off-duty employee, had created a commotion in the official bungalow of Teran when the official was already in the field attending emergency power restoration service in Santipara area.

“Trespassing an official residential area late at night that too by an off-duty employee creating a sense of insecurity among the dependents of the official, who was on duty, is equally a significant aspect which should be taken into consideration as that might have led to the act of offence,” added one of the top AOD officials, who, however, termed the incident as ‘unfortunate’.

“We will inquire into the actual happenings and initiate action against the guilty,” assured one of the top officials of the AOD management.

Laxman Sharma is Northeast Now Correspondent in Digboi. He can be reached at: [email protected]