Guwahati: Ashik Ali, accused in the death of Gauhati University student Nimisha Thakuria, was injured in police firing in Dharapur, Guwahati, in the early hours of Tuesday. According to police, Ali allegedly attempted to escape from custody, following which personnel opened fire, injuring him in the leg.
Ali was subsequently taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for treatment. The incident occurred on the day his eight-day police custody was scheduled to end, with the accused expected to be produced before a court.
Ali has been accused of involvement in the death of 21-year-old Nimisha Thakuria, whose body was recovered from a homestay in Guwahati on September 25. Thakuria, a Sociology student at Gauhati University, was a resident of Dharapur under the Azara police station area.
Police recovered her body from Rudra’s Kitchen Homestay late on September 25 and subsequently began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Earlier, Guwahati Deputy Commissioner of Police Bolin Deori said Ali had claimed that Nimisha died by suicide after allegedly hanging herself. Police, however, stressed that the claim had not been verified and that investigators were examining all possible explanations.
Deori had said police were questioning Ali and had sent Nimisha’s body for post-mortem examination to establish further details.
Police have also said that Ali acknowledged being in a relationship with Nimisha. Investigators are examining the circumstances in which the two met, what happened before Nimisha was found unconscious at the homestay and the injuries documented during the inquest.
The circumstances surrounding Nimisha’s death remain under investigation, and police have said they are examining all possible angles before reaching any conclusion.