HT Correspondent
JORHAT, Oct 16: Two persons have been arrested in connection with the death of Debojit Neog, a 20-year-old resident of Tarajan Sonari Gaon under Pulibar Police Station, who died under suspicious circumstances on Wednesday evening.
Pulibar Police Station Officer-in-Charge N Das confirmed the arrest of Bhargav Neog, a friend of the deceased, and Maina Kalita, a staff member of a newly opened drug rehabilitation centre near the Ajanta bypass. The arrests were made under Sections 61(2)/103/8(5) of the BNS, as per Pulibar PS case number 128/25. While Bhargav Neog was remanded to judicial custody, Maina Kalita was sent to police custody.
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According to police, Debojit was picked up by Bhargav around 4 pm on Wednesday, which was also Debojit’s birthday, as stated by his father in the FIR. Later in the evening, Maina Kalita and others informed Debojit’s father that he had fallen seriously ill and was taken to Jorhat Medical College Hospital (JMCH). He was declared dead before his father arrived.
Initial investigations suggested the presence of froth in Debojit’s mouth, pointing to a possible drug overdose. However, police are awaiting the post-mortem report for confirmation.
OC Das stated that both Bhargav and Debojit had reportedly consumed drugs, after which Bhargav rushed an unconscious Debojit to the rehab centre on his scooty. Debojit reportedly fell unconscious upon arrival and was dragged inside the centre, where his sandal and spectacles were found near a drain.
The police said that all other inmates and the owner of the rehab centre fled the facility on Thursday, and the centre was found locked. Authorities are yet to verify whether the centre was licensed.
Maina Kalita, who was detained for questioning, reportedly showed a video of Debojit in an unconscious state upon being brought to the centre.
“We did not seek police custody for Bhargav as he appeared to be under the influence of drugs, which makes detention challenging,” said OC Das.
Meanwhile, Debojit’s father has alleged that his son was not a drug addict and was forcibly given drugs and then brutally beaten by Bhargav, Maina Kalita, and others at the rehab centre, leading to his death. He claimed that the entire incident was a planned act by Bhargav and his associates.
