Gauhati University student death accused shot during escape bid, injured

Asif Ali, the key accused in the death of 22-year-old Gauhati University student Nimisha Thakuria, was injured in police firing in Guwahati on Tuesday after he allegedly tried to escape from custody.

Asif, 26, was admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) with bullet injuries to his right leg. His eight-day police custody was scheduled to end today, and he was due to be produced before a court.

GMCH Superintendent Dr Devajit Choudhury said police brought Asif to the hospital around 5.35 am on Tuesday. Doctors found two bullet injuries around his right ankle and no injuries elsewhere on his body.

“He is otherwise stable, although there is some involvement of the joint and bone due to the injuries,” Choudhury said.

Doctors applied a plaster cast after examining him and conducting the necessary investigations. He is undergoing treatment in the hospital’s Orthopaedics Department.ACCUSED’S CLAIM UNDER INVESTIGATION

Nimisha was found unconscious at Rudra’s Kitchen Homestay in Guwahati’s Azara area on September 25 and later declared dead at GMCH.

A Sociology student at Gauhati University and a resident of Dharapur, she had been staying at the homestay since September 20.

Asif told police that she died by suicide at the homestay. Police said they were investigating his claim and had not established the cause of death.

“Whether that claim is true or false will be determined through the investigation. We do not believe anyone’s statement blindly,” DCP West Bolin Deori told reporters during an earlier briefing on the case.

Deori said three men took Nimisha to Garl PHC, from where she was referred to GMCH. The other two men who accompanied Asif worked at the homestay, police said.

Police sent her body for a post-mortem examination and began examining her belongings and other evidence to establish what happened.PARENTS SAY THEY WERE IN A RELATIONSHIP

Asif’s father, Ashik Ali, said his son and Nimisha had been in a relationship for around five years. He claimed Nimisha called Asif on the day of the incident and asked him to accompany her.

Asif’s mother said Nimisha had visited their home once during Eid. She said her son worked as a painter and sometimes drove for Rapido to earn a living.

Police said they were also verifying the nature of the relationship. “We will examine all the facts and only then comment,” Deori said.

Asif’s mother said she wanted justice for Nimisha and that her son should be punished if the investigation established his guilt.

“If my son is guilty, he should be punished. I only want justice for the girl as well,” she said.- Ends