Assam State Commission for Women member Himani Adhikari led a relief team that broke through a locked gate in a Bongaigaon home, where Sayanika Das had been held for several months. The operation was carried out with a magistrate and a squad of officers, all present when the women emerged from the house, visibly shaken but alive.
Sayanika, who married Anshuman Kalita on February 25, 2022, says the marriage began as a love affair but deteriorated after disputes over household expenses. She had secured a job at a local bank in an attempt to gain financial independence, a move that reportedly angered her husband.
After relocating to Tinsukia for work, Sayanika claims her husband stopped calling and stopped coming home. When she returned unexpectedly, she found clothing she believed belonged to another woman, prompting her to allege mental harassment and confinement by both her husband and his brother, Palaban Kalita.
The family lodged a formal complaint with the police, prompting the Commission’s intervention. An investigation is now underway, with the police collecting evidence and interviewing both the accused and witnesses. The case could lead to criminal charges under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
Sayanika’s bank supervisor, who witnessed her early morning arrivals for work, said she had been a “model employee” and had never shown signs of distress before the alleged abuse began. Her colleagues, unaware of the situation, are now calling for stricter enforcement of domestic violence laws.
The next phase will see the police filing a charge sheet against the Kalitas, while the Commission will monitor the case to ensure Sayanika’s safety and legal recourse.