Bar Found Operating Beyond Closing Time
7 arrested staff members of Guwahati bar
Guwahati: Seven people, including female bouncers, of a Guwahati bar have been arrested after CCTV footage purportedly showing them assaulting a woman at the basement of the premises went viral on the social media on Friday.Those arrested have been charged with criminal conspiracy, assault on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, sexual harassment, and attempt to murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.Police said the video showing the woman being assaulted by a group of persons, including males and females, at The Locals Bar Cum Restaurant at Khanapara was circulated on social media on Friday.Police have registered a suo moto case based on an enquiry and examination of the footage since no complaint has been filed by the assaulted woman, whose identity is still unknown.A source said the incident started with a brawl between the woman and a female bouncer inside the bar. She allegedly hit the female bouncer after which she was dragged down to the basement.“On receipt of the information, police conducted an enquiry and examined the available CCTV footage. The footage revealed that the victim was allegedly assaulted inside the bar by a group of persons at around 2.30 AM. Thereafter, she was allegedly dragged towards the basement by pulling her hair and clothes, where she was again assaulted and appeared to become semi-conscious,” police stated.Police found that several of those involved in the assault were linked to the bar’s management and staff. Police also found the establishment was operating well past its permitted closing time of 12.30 am, and that the management had failed to inform the local police station about the incident.Those arrested include the bar manager, an event manager, a woman front office executive , two woman bouncers and two other men.DCP (East) of Police Commissionerate Guwahati stated the police are examining the complete sequence of events, the role of each person involved, the bar’s operation beyond permitted hours, and any other violations that may surface during the probe.
