The investigation into the death of 22-year-old Gauhati University student Nimisha Thakuria has intensified, with Guwahati Police arresting a 26-year-old man, identified as Aashique Ali, and examining multiple aspects of the case, including alleged lapses at a Dharapur homestay where the two had reportedly stayed.
According to police, Nimisha was taken to the Physical Health Centre at Garal around 4.30 am by three young men before being referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where doctors declared her brought dead. Police have since arrested Ali and taken him into custody for questioning.
Investigators have seized the homestay’s registration records, CCTV footage and Nimisha’s mobile phone. Her body has been sent for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
During questioning, Ali reportedly told police that Nimisha had died by suicide after hanging herself from a ceiling fan. However, police have not accepted this claim as established fact and said all possible angles are being investigated.
Officials stated that investigators are still trying to determine exactly how many people were present at the homestay when the incident took place and said it would be premature to draw conclusions before the investigation is completed.
Meanwhile, Nimisha’s family has raised serious concerns over the circumstances of her death. According to her father, she left home around 5 pm on Friday, informing her family that she was going out for a meal. Later, she reportedly told them she would stay at a hostel with a friend.
Her father alleged that around 2 am, Nimisha called her mother and said, “Maa, they are kicking me in the chest. I cannot breathe.” He claimed there was no further communication from her after that call.
Expressing grief, Nimisha’s father demanded strict punishment for those responsible, saying the family was now preparing for her funeral instead of planning her future.
Police are also examining reports of injury marks on her body. The findings of the post-mortem examination are expected to provide crucial details regarding the cause and manner of her death.
The investigation has also brought the Dharapur-based homestay, identified as Rudra’s Kitchen, under scrutiny. Deputy Commissioner of Police Bolin Deori said preliminary findings suggest guests may have been allowed to stay there without proper documentation. Police are reviewing records and examining the circumstances under which Nimisha and Ali allegedly stayed at the facility. Investigators believe the pair had visited the homestay several times over the past month.
Deori said police would take action against anyone found to have violated the law and indicated that arrests could be made if necessary.
On Saturday, public anger over the incident spilled onto the streets as a large number of residents blocked National Highway 17 near Azara, disrupting traffic on the route connecting Guwahati with Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport.
The protest was triggered by preliminary observations from a magisterial inquest, which reportedly noted injury marks on Nimisha’s face, head, hands and private parts. Police and district administration officials rushed to the area as demonstrators demanded justice.
Authorities have reiterated that no conclusion has yet been reached regarding the cause of death. The post-mortem report and ongoing investigation are expected to establish the circumstances leading to Nimisha Thakuria’s death.
