GUWAHATI: Police have sealed a homestay on the outskirts of Guwahati after a Gauhati University student was found unconscious there and later died in hospital.Nimisha Thakuria was found in a critical condition at Rudra’s Kitchen homestay in the Dharapur-Garal area early on Saturday. She was taken to Garal Primary Health Centre and later referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where doctors declared her dead on arrival.Police have detained her alleged companion, 26-year-old Ashiq Ali, and are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.The homestay was sealed on Sunday after a preliminary probe found alleged lapses in maintaining proper guest documentation, police said. Investigators are examining its records and the circumstances in which Nimisha and Ali stayed there.The homestay had also not collected mandatory identification documents from the two, police said.According to police, the two had visited the homestay around five times in the past month.Police have said Ali’s claim that Nimisha died by suicide has not yet been established and that all possible angles are being investigated.
‘Will stay at hostel with friends’
Nimisha’s father, Deep Thakuria, said she left home around 5pm on Friday and told her mother that she might spend the night at the Gauhati University hostel with friends.“She had told her mother that she would stay at Gauhati University hostel with her friends,” he said.Around 10pm, Nimisha again told her mother that she would spend the night there.But around 2am, she called her mother unexpectedly.“After that, we could no longer reach her. We kept calling her repeatedly, but there was no response,” Thakuria added.The family then contacted Azara police station, where an officer tried to trace Nimisha’s phone location.Thakuria said he and his family also went to the police station and informed the second officer-in-charge about the situation.Around half an hour later, police told the family that a girl had been found at Garal Primary Health Centre and asked them to verify whether she was Nimisha.He said police told them that if the woman was Nimisha, she would be taken immediately to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.
‘She did not mention homestay’
Thakuria said Nimisha had not told the family that she planned to stay at a homestay with Ali.Instead, he said, she had told them she would stay at the university hostel with friends.“She took Rs 2,000 just two days back, saying she would go out to eat with her friends and stay overnight at a friend’s hostel,” he said.Police said Nimisha and Ali had been staying at a homestay in the Dharapur-Garal area. Investigators are examining their movements and the events leading up to Nimisha being found unconscious.
Police examine Ali’s account
Ali told police that Nimisha had hanged herself and died by suicide.Deputy commissioner of police (west) Balin Deuri said investigators would establish whether that account was true.“Whether it is true or a lie, would come out during the investigation,” Deuri said.The body has been sent for post-mortem examination and police are awaiting the report. CID and forensic teams have also examined the homestay room and collected evidence as part of the investigation.
