Guwahati student found dead at homestay; father alleges gang rape before murder

A 22-year-old Gauhati University student was found dead at a homestay on the outskirts of Guwahati, with her father alleging that she was gang-raped and tortured before being killed.

The deceased, identified as Nimisha Thakuria, was found unconscious at a homestay in Garal, near Azara, on Saturday. Police have arrested her 26-year-old friend, Asif Ali, in connection with the case and are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

Ali has reportedly told police that Thakuria died by suicide. However, Guwahati West Deputy Commissioner of Police Bolin Deori said investigators did not accept that account at this stage and were treating the death as suspicious.

“We don't believe his version. We need to continue our investigation,” Deori told NDTV on Saturday, adding that the inquiry was still in its preliminary stage.

Family alleges assault before death

Thakuria's father told reporters that his daughter had left home around 5pm on Friday, saying she was going out to eat with friends.

At around 10pm, she called her mother and said she would stay at the university hostel with a friend because it was late.

According to her father, she called her mother again around 2am and said she had been badly beaten. The call was then disconnected.

“She was gang-raped before she was killed,” he alleged, saying marks on her body indicated that she had been tortured. He also claimed that she had been tied with ropes.

The father further said his daughter had told her mother during the call that “they will kill me” before her phone was allegedly snatched.

The allegations have not been established by police, and the investigation is continuing.

Police probe death as suspected murder

Police were alerted after Thakuria was taken unconscious to a local health facility. She was subsequently referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

DCP Deori said police had not found blood on either the woman's body or the floor of the homestay. He said investigators were examining the circumstances of the death and had questioned the homestay owner, caretakers and other staff.

Reports said the post-mortem examination was awaited as investigators sought to establish the cause and manner of death.

The homestay's staff have also provided information to investigators. A caretaker reportedly told police that he heard a man calling out during the night and later saw Ali holding Thakuria while she was lying on the floor. The staff then alerted the owners and called an ambulance.

Thakuria and Ali had reportedly stayed at the homestay before. Police are examining statements from the owner and employees as part of the investigation.

Protests erupt as police examine all angles

The case has also triggered protests in the area, with some organisations alleging “love jihad” after reports that Thakuria was Hindu and Ali was Muslim. Protesters reportedly blocked a road in the Azara area before police intervened.

Police have not endorsed that allegation and have said the investigation is focused on establishing how Thakuria died.

The case remains under investigation, with Ali in custody and police continuing to examine the evidence, statements from witnesses and the post-mortem findings.