Assam: 22-Year-Old University Student Found Dead At Homestay In Guwahati; One Arrested

Guwahati: A 22-year-old Gauhati University (GU) student was found dead early on Saturday near a homestay at Garal on the outskirts of Guwahati, with police detaining her boyfriend and investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

The incident triggered a road blockade by a Hindu youth organisation in Azara, with protesters alleging that the death was a case of “love jihad”. Police said all angles were being investigated.

Nimisha Thakuria, a Sociology student enrolled in a five-year integrated course at Gauhati University and a resident of Dharapur, was found unconscious near Garal Primary Health Centre around 4.30 am. Three men brought her to the health centre. She was later referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where doctors declared her brought dead.

Police detained Asif Ali alias Ashiq Ali or Aashique Ali, aged about 26, who was known to Nimisha and had acknowledged being in a relationship with her. Ali is in custody and is being questioned.

According to Guwahati West Deputy Commissioner of Police Bolin Deori, Ali told investigators that Nimisha had died by suicide after hanging herself from a ceiling fan. “According to him, she hanged herself on the ceiling fan and died from self-harm,” Deori said.

Deori, however, said police would not accept the claim without verification and were examining all aspects of the case. “We suspect this as a kind of murder,” Deori said in one briefing, adding that the inquiry was at a preliminary stage. Injury marks were found on the body. Nimisha’s family has alleged that she was assaulted.

Her father, Deep Thakuria, said Nimisha left home around 5 pm on Friday, telling her mother that she would stay with her friends at the Gauhati University girls’ hostel. She later went to Rudra’s Kitchen homestay at Dharapur.

At around 2 am, Nimisha reportedly called her mother and said, “Maa, they are kicking me in the chest. I cannot breathe.” The call was subsequently disconnected and her mobile phone remained switched off. A family friend later recounted that Nimisha had said, “They will kill me, Mom” during the call.

The family informed Azara police, following which police launched a search and began an investigation. During the search, Nimisha’s body was recovered near the premises of a hospital at Garal in Azara.

Preliminary information indicates that Nimisha had gone to Rudra’s Kitchen homestay in the Dharapur-Garchuk area with Ali. Police have seized the homestay’s registration book, CCTV footage and Nimisha’s mobile phone.

The body was sent to GMCH for post-mortem examination. Azara police have sealed the homestay after finding alleged lapses in guest documentation. Nimisha was the eldest daughter of Deep Thakuria, a resident of Dharapur under Jalukbari LAC.

On Saturday, a Hindu youth organisation of Azara blocked National Highway 17 leading to Guwahati airport, demanding strict action and answers in the case. Some protesters raised slogans referring to “love jihad” and called for an end to what they described as such incidents.

Nimisha’s father demanded strict punishment for those responsible for his daughter’s death. “Punish them in the same manner as my daughter was beaten,” he said. Police said the investigation was ongoing

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)