Doctor’s police custody extended by 5 more days

Guwahati: A court here in Guwahati on Friday sent city-based psychiatrist Sangeeta Datta, who was arrested on May 6 for allegedly sexually abusing her adopted daughter, to police custody for five more days.Sangeeta, who was arrested from Khanapara where she was hiding, was produced before the court on Friday after the end of the five-day police custody. Police had prayed for seven-day custody but the court granted five days.Meanwhile, a personal assistant of the doctor, who is currently absconding, is facing arrest in connection with the case. Sources said the police are searching for her. She may be charged with child trafficking, they added. Datta’s husband Waliul Islam, who is a gastrointestinal and advanced general surgeon, was arrested on May 5 and is currently in police custody.The domestic help of the doctor couple, Lakhi Rai, was also arrested and sent to judicial custody by a court on May 6.The child abuse case by the doctor couple is being directly monitored by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and DGP GP Singh.The three-year-old adopted daughter and son were rescued by the police on May 5. The police said both the children had worrying injuries in different parts of their body and the medical reports have established sexual assault.The children are currently being given extreme care by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Kamrup (Metro) district. A team of expert medical doctors of the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) is monitoring the treatment of the children.CWC chairperson Jitu Dutta said the children have started talking and playing with other children at the shelter and their health condition has also improved.