A grave incident of alleged sexual assault at the Park Inn, a premium hotel in Digboi’s Gola locality, has sent shockwaves across Assam, raising serious questions about guest safety and the accountability of hospitality establishments. The case has thrust into the spotlight concerns over potential regulatory loopholes and the alleged complicity of hotel staff in facilitating illicit activities.
According to the police, the horrific incident unfolded on June 15 when 24-year-old Suraj Koiry, hailing from Lekhapani, reportedly brought the young woman to the Park Inn and allegedly subjected her to sexual assault during the night.
Overcome by trauma and fear, the survivor initially refrained from reporting the incident. However, gathering immense courage, she finally lodged a formal complaint at the Digboi Police Station on June 20, bringing the disturbing details to light.
Acting swiftly on the First Information Report (FIR), law enforcement officials launched an immediate investigation at the hotel. Their probe led to the prompt arrest of Neeraj Baruah (25), the hotel manager, and Saptarshi Das (48), a staff member. Both individuals now face accusations of aiding and abetting the primary accused by allegedly providing unauthorised accommodation and deliberately failing to report the suspicious circumstances surrounding the stay.
Subsequently, the main accused, Suraj Koiry, was also apprehended. A case has been registered under Section 64(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (Case No. 104/25), and all three individuals have been remanded to judicial custody, awaiting further legal proceedings.
Preliminary investigations indicate a deliberate circumvention of standard check-in protocols by the hotel management, a lapse that critically enabled the alleged crime to occur. This distressing incident has ignited widespread alarm among community members in Digboi, with many alleging that such occurrences are not isolated.
There are growing suspicions that several hotels in the area might be operating as clandestine centres for immoral and illegal activities, masquerading as legitimate businesses, thereby compromising the safety and well-being of patrons. The incident underscores an urgent need for stricter oversight and enforcement of regulations within the hospitality sector to prevent such deplorable acts from recurring.
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