Former inmates allege torture at de-addiction centre in Assam's Nagaon

Police have launched an investigation into allegations of physical abuse at a private de-addiction centre in Assam's Nagaon district after a parent lodged an FIR accusing the facility of subjecting patients to brutal treatment.
 

The allegations relate to the Come Back Foundation, a de-addiction centre located at Hussain Market in Kadamoni under Batadrava Police Station. The centre's owners, Ekramul Islam Mazumdar and Ilias Ahmed, have been accused of physically assaulting individuals admitted there for treatment for substance addiction.
 

According to the complaint and statements by former inmates, patients were allegedly tied up by their hands and feet and beaten as a form of "therapy" instead of receiving proper medical care and rehabilitation. Several former inmates claimed they sustained serious injuries as a result of the alleged abuse.
 

One of the alleged victims, Azijul Haque, claimed he was repeatedly assaulted while restrained, resulting in five of his teeth being broken. He alleged that he was subjected to physical torture for hours during his stay at the centre.
 

The case came to light after the parent of an inmate filed an FIR at Batadrava Police Station, prompting the police to initiate an investigation into the functioning of the rehabilitation centre.
 

The incident has also raised concerns over the operation of private de-addiction centres, where several such facilities have come up in recent years. Questions have been raised over whether some of these centres are operating without adequate medical infrastructure, trained personnel and proper rehabilitation practices.
 

Police said the investigation is underway.