Gauhati University Student Found Dead at Homestay After Distress Call

A 22-year-old Gauhati University student was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a homestay on the outskirts of Guwahati on Saturday, after her family received a distress call from her in the early hours of the morning.

The student's father said the family was alerted around 2 am when her mother received a call. According to him, the young woman said she had been beaten and kicked in the chest and was struggling to breathe. She also alleged that people inside the room had locked the door and were assaulting her.

The family immediately set out to find her, calling her mobile phone repeatedly. Her father said some of those calls were answered by men — two different men, on separate occasions. In one call, the family was told she was breathless; in another, that she was unconscious. He also claimed the family was given different locations, making it difficult to determine where she was.

The family then contacted the police, who informed them that a girl had been taken to a nearby primary health facility. When the family reached the facility, they found her in a critical condition. She was later shifted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have arrested her male companion in connection with the case. Investigators have also recorded an account that she died by suicide, and are examining the circumstances surrounding that claim. The post-mortem examination and forensic findings are expected to be important to the probe.

The father said he noticed what he described as injury marks on her body, alleging injuries on her lips, cheeks and chest, and claiming there appeared to be injuries around her private parts. He also alleged that her hands may have been tied. He suspects that more than one person may have been involved and has alleged that his daughter was assaulted and killed. These allegations form part of the family's account and have not been established by investigators.

Recounting the hours before her death, the father said the student had left home on Friday after asking for Rs 2,000 to spend time with friends. The family had recently celebrated her birthday. She went out in the evening, returned briefly after buying something to eat and shared it with her younger sister. He said he spoke to her around 8 pm, when she told him she was having food with a friend and would stay at a female friend's place if it got late.

The father also said the family had no knowledge of her travelling with a male friend, and were surprised when photographs of the two began circulating. He said the family has faith in the police and the government, and appealed to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to ensure a thorough investigation and strict action against anyone found responsible.

Describing his daughter, he said she was friendly and would quickly form a bond with people she met, and that she had been looking for a job.