Guwahati: student found dead at homestay, man in custody
A 21-year-old university student died at a homestay in Guwahati after telling her mother by phone that she had been assaulted, and a man who was with her has been detained.
A 21-year-old student has died at a homestay in Guwahati, causing shock in the area. She has been identified as Nimisha Thakuria, a resident of Dharapur who was pursuing a five-year integrated course at Guwahati University.
The incident took place on Friday night. Nimisha had left home with a friend. She later called her mother and reportedly told her that she had been assaulted. Soon after, her phone was switched off. When her family could not reach her, they went to Azara police station to report her missing, and police began searching for her.
During the search, police found Nimisha's body at a homestay called Rudreas Kitchen in the Garal area. Police reached the spot and began an investigation. Asif Ali, who was present with Nimisha at the homestay, was taken into custody.
During questioning, Asif Ali told police that Nimisha had died by suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling fan. Police have not yet confirmed this claim and are investigating it. An initial examination found injury marks on her body, and the circumstances of her death are being examined more closely. Investigators are looking into evidence from the scene, the condition inside the homestay, Nimisha's mobile phone, and details about the man who was with her. The last phone call to her mother, and the phone going switched off afterward, is also a key part of the investigation.
Nimisha's body has been sent for post-mortem examination to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital. The post-mortem report is expected to establish the actual cause of death and the nature of the injuries found on her body, which could give direction to the police investigation. Following the incident, local residents and students staged protests in the Dharapur area. Some organisations have alleged a "love jihad" angle to the incident, but police have not confirmed this claim. The exact cause of Nimisha's death remains unclear, and police are continuing their investigation based on evidence and the post-mortem report.
