A woman enrolled at the Gauhati University was found dead at a homestay in Guwahati’s Azara area in the early hours of Saturday, after which the police detained a man, said to be one of her friends, the police said. According to police, they have mounted a probe into the circumstances surrounding her death.

The woman who was discovered dead has been identified as Nimisha Thakuria, who was a Sociology student and a native of Dharapur. Police said Nimisha was found unconscious at the homestay and was rushed to a hospital, where the doctors pronounced her dead upon arrival.

Man who accompanied Nimisha detained

Police revealed that one Asif Ali, who had been staying with Nimisha at the property, has been detained after her death, adding that Ali told the cops that Nimisha died by suicide after allegedly hanging herself from a ceiling fan. DCP (West) Bolin Deori told the media, “According to Asif, she hanged herself on the ceiling fan and died from self-harm.”

However, the police emphasised that they are not believing Ali’s version and that his account of the incident shall be scrutinised. The cops are examining the events leading up to Nimisha’s deaths, along with statements from people present at the crime scene and other available evidence.

Apart from this, police are also delving into the circumstances surrounding the couple’s stay at the property. The staff at the homestay told the police that Nimisha and Ali had earlier too visited the premises together on several occasions.

Nimisha made ‘They’ll Kill Me’ call to kin: Family friend

While numerous aspects of the case continue to emerge, one of Nimisha’s family friends made such a claim which also has been roped in as part of the probe. The friend said Nimisha had told her family that she would spend the night at a friend’s house. She allegedly called up her mother during the night and said, “They’ll kill me.” The friend went on to add that following this, Nimisha’s cell phone was snatched.

The account has not been established independently, as per a report by NDTV, and police are likely to verify the sequence of events as part of their probe.

The caretaker of the homestay told the investigators that he heard a man shouting during the night and asking someone to get up. Police are expected to examine his statement alongside other evidence to establish what happened inside the property that night.

Protests erupt over Love Jihad allegation

Meanwhile, several Hindu outfits have taken to the streets to protest against what they called an incident of ‘Love Jihad.; However, the allegations have not been proven yet, and police too have not concluded that Nimisha’s death was connected to any such conspiracy.

Currently, the exact circumstances and the cause behind Nimisha’s death have not been established conclusively. Police are persevering in efforts to crack the case, and are interrogating people, as well as examining the available evidence before drawing any conclusion.