Guwahati: Police have arrested 26-year-old Ashiq Ali in connection with the death of 22-year-old Gauhati University student Nimisha Thakuria, who was found critically injured at a homestay in Guwahati’s Dharapur-Garal area on Saturday.
The homestay, where Nimisha and Ali had been staying, has been sealed as investigators examine the circumstances leading to the student’s death. Police have also questioned the owner and employees of the property, while forensic and CID teams have examined the room and collected evidence.
According to Nimisha’s father, Deep Thakuria, his daughter called her mother around 2 am on Saturday and said she had been beaten and assaulted. She allegedly told her mother, “Ma, they have beaten me. They punched me in the chest and assaulted me. I am injured.”
The family said they were unable to contact Nimisha after the call. They subsequently approached Azara police station and requested assistance in tracing her phone. Police later informed the family that a woman had been found at Garal Primary Health Centre and asked them to verify her identity.
Nimisha was subsequently referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Family unaware of homestay stay
Nimisha had reportedly left home around 5 pm on Friday and told her mother that she would spend the night at the Gauhati University hostel with friends. She repeated around 10 pm that she planned to stay there.
Her father said the family was unaware that she was staying at a homestay with Ali. He also said Nimisha had taken Rs 2,000 from home two days earlier, telling the family that she intended to eat out with friends and stay overnight at a friend’s hostel.
Police said Nimisha and Ali had been staying at Rudra’s Kitchen homestay in the Dharapur-Garal area.
Ali’s account under investigation
Police are also examining Ali’s account of the incident. According to investigators, Ali told police that Nimisha had hanged herself and died by suicide.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Balin Deuri said investigators would determine whether the account was accurate.
Nimisha’s body was sent for post-mortem examination. Police are awaiting the findings as part of the investigation.
A homestay employee, Bipul Bailung, told police that Nimisha and Ali were staying in room number 10 and had ordered food at around 9.30 pm. He said employees later heard cries for help and a male voice between approximately 2.30 am and 3 am.
According to Bailung, three employees went to the room and found Nimisha lying on the floor, while Ali was holding her and crying.
Police are examining the sequence of events inside the room and whether any other person was present or involved.
Homestay verification lapses examined
Police said Nimisha and Ali had visited the homestay five times during the month and were allegedly allowed to stay without proper identity verification. The property had reportedly not collected mandatory identification documents from the two.
The homestay owner and three employees were questioned, and the premises were subsequently sealed.
DCP Deuri said the property had been rented to a person identified as Jayanta Saki for around Rs 1.30 lakh a month. Police are examining the arrangement and whether any violations or other links to the case emerge.
Investigators are also looking into information that a friend of Ali had stayed in the room on the day of the incident.
Protest after student’s death
Following Nimisha’s death, local residents blocked a road leading towards the airport and staged a protest demanding a thorough investigation.
Some protesters alleged that the incident was linked to what they described as “love jihad”.
Police have said they are examining all aspects of the case.
Nimisha’s last rites were performed on Saturday evening after her body was handed over to her family following the post-mortem examination. Ali remains in police custody as investigators continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
