Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: A 21-year-old Gauhati University student is dead. Police found Nimisha Thakuria near a hospital in Garal following a late night alert. She was enrolled in a five-year integrated Sociology course and lived in the Dharapur area under the Azara police station jurisdiction.
Thakuria left her home around 11 pm on Friday, September 25. She headed to Rudra’s Kitchen Homestay in Dharapur. The student reportedly stayed at the location with a male acquaintance named Ashiq Ali. Some reports suggest they checked into the homestay on September 20, though authorities have yet to confirm this timeline.
The situation turned dark late Friday. Thakuria called her mother to report that Ali had physically assaulted her. The phone cut off shortly after that conversation. Family members notified the Azara police immediately. Officers launched a search and eventually recovered her body in Garal.
Ali is currently in custody. While he claimed the student died by suicide, police are not buying it. Investigators are weighing all evidence before making a final determination. The body is currently at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for an autopsy. Officials await the final report to confirm the cause of death. As the investigation moves forward, police are questioning those connected to the case.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 5:48pm
Three men discovered Thakuria unconscious near the Garal Primary Health Centre around 4.30 am and rushed her to the facility before she was transferred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Doctors declared her dead on arrival. A magisterial inquest noted injury marks on the student's face, head, hands, and private parts.
Guwahati Deputy Commissioner of Police Bolin Deori confirmed that investigators are reviewing the homestay's records, which reveal the pair had visited the establishment roughly five times over the past month. Police plan to seal the property due to lapses in mandatory guest documentation. "Everyone at the homestay will be arrested if necessary," Deori said.
Tensions boiled over on Saturday, September 26, as residents blocked National Highway 17 near Azara to demand the death penalty for the accused. The blockade stalled traffic heading to the airport as demonstrators called for a broader crackdown on local homestays and voiced demands regarding the investigation.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 6:01pm
The victim's father provided a harrowing account of her final moments. He stated Nimisha left home around 5 pm on Friday. Around 2 am, she called her mother, crying, "Ma, they have kicked me on the chest. I cannot breathe." The father reported that the call then went silent, though the family could still hear men's voices in the background before the line cut out.
Protesters at the scene on Saturday also aired broader grievances, including demands to investigate local homestays for potential links to organized criminal activity, alongside their calls for the death penalty for the suspect.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 11:00pm
Investigators are moving to seal Rudra's Kitchen after finding the establishment allowed guests to stay without mandatory documentation. Records seized from the property show the pair visited the facility at least five times over the past month. Deputy Commissioner of Police Bolin Deori stated that police intend to arrest everyone involved with the homestay's operations if the investigation uncovers further criminal negligence.
The victim's father provided a harrowing account of the final moments before the line went dead. He claims his daughter called her mother around 2 am, sobbing, "Ma, they have kicked me on the chest. I cannot breathe." The father reported that after that plea, the call went silent, though family members could still hear men's voices in the background before the connection failed.
The investigation has also drawn public anger, with protesters blocking National Highway 17 on Saturday to demand the death penalty for Ali. During these demonstrations, some individuals also demanded an investigation into local homestays for potential links to organized criminal activity, alongside unsubstantiated claims regarding the motive for the attack.
Updated at 27th September 2026 at 1:48am
Protesters at the scene also demanded an end to what they labeled as love jihad, calling for government intervention to stop similar incidents. These claims remain unsubstantiated by police, who maintain they are reviewing all evidence without bias.
The family of the deceased received her remains following the completion of the post-mortem exam. Her father continues to press for a thorough investigation, insisting that those responsible for her suffering face the full weight of the law.
Updated at 27th September 2026 at 9:49am
The victim's father has appealed directly to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, demanding the state head personally intervene to ensure justice. The grieving parent reported noticing visible trauma on his daughter's body, specifically on her lips, thighs, head, and chest, leading him to raise concerns regarding possible sexual assault. While these allegations remain unverified, the family continues to push for a high-level probe.
Amid the growing public outcry, protesters have explicitly demanded an end to what they label as love jihad. The atmosphere at the protest site remained volatile, with demonstrators calling for government intervention to prevent similar tragedies. Police continue to stress that they are handling the case objectively and have not substantiated these claims, focusing instead on the evidence gathered from the scene and the ongoing questioning of Ashiq Ali.
Updated at 27th September 2026 at 9:50pm
New details shed light on the history between the pair. Ashiq Ali's parents claim the couple had been in a relationship for five years and that both families were aware of the involvement. His mother stated that Nimisha had visited their home in Garigaon multiple times, including during Eid, and that the couple previously traveled to Shillong together for a stay of several days.
According to Ali's father, Nimisha initiated contact on the afternoon of September 25, asking his son to visit. The father claimed he was not at home when Ali departed that evening. He further alleged that his son took the student for medical attention after she fell ill, leading to his contact with police. Ali's mother defended her son, questioning why he would remain with the body if he were the assailant.
Updated at 28th September 2026 at 5:48pm
Police have detained a second individual, identified as Mitu Ali, for questioning. Investigators suspect Mitu Ali played a role in facilitating the stay at the homestay. As the probe widens, officials are scrutinizing evidence recovered from mobile phones to piece together the events leading to the student's death.
Ashiq Ali's mother alleged her son struggled with substance abuse, suggesting he consumed drugs. Meanwhile, a friend of the accused stated publicly that if Ali is found guilty, he should face the full extent of the law, adding that anyone else involved in the alleged assault must also be held accountable.
Following a request from the victim's parents, Instagram accounts belonging to both the deceased and the accused have been taken down. The move aims to curb the spread of personal data and speculation during the ongoing investigation.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the incident, pledging a thorough inquiry. He stated that investigators will review the student's social media activity and personal statements. He also emphasized the role of family values and traditional customs in preventing domestic conflicts, promising that whoever is found guilty will be punished.
Comments