Gauhati University student death: Police hunt missing witness Rupam Saikia
Synopsis
A witness who was reportedly drinking with Gauhati University student Nimisha Thakuria and prime accused Ashik Ali on the night she died has vanished — his phone last traced to a field in Rampur before going dark. Assam Police are now running two parallel hunts: for answers in Thakuria's death, and for the man who may hold the key to the timeline.
Key Takeaways
Assam Police are searching for Rupam Saikia , reportedly present at the Guwahati homestay on the night Nimisha Thakuria died.
Saikia's mobile phone was last traced to a field in the Rampur area; the phone has been switched off since.
His mother filed a missing person complaint at Jalukbari Police Station after he left for Adabari and could not be contacted.
Nitu Ali , also of Baihata Chariali , has been taken into custody for allegedly supplying alcohol at the homestay.
Prime accused Ashik Ali has been remanded to eight days of police custody.
Thakuria was found unconscious at the Garal locality homestay and was later declared dead at a hospital.
Assam Police investigating the death of Gauhati University student Nimisha Thakuria at a homestay in Guwahati have launched a search for Rupam Saikia, a man reportedly present at the property on the night of the incident, officials said on Tuesday, 29 September. Saikia's sudden disappearance has added a significant new dimension to the probe into Thakuria's death.
Who Is Rupam Saikia
Saikia, a resident of Baihata Chariali, reportedly consumed alcohol with Thakuria and the prime accused, Ashik Ali, at the homestay on the night in question. According to police, he left the premises at around 10 pm and subsequently travelled to Mirza after receiving information about the death of a family member, returning home the following morning.
He reportedly remained at his residence during the day but left on his motorcycle for Adabari in the evening. His family lost contact with him thereafter, prompting his mother to lodge a missing person complaint at Jalukbari Police Station.
Last Known Location and Phone Trail
Investigators have traced the last known location of Saikia's mobile phone to a field behind a company in the Rampur area. The phone has remained switched off since then, according to officials. Police are now examining whether his disappearance is directly connected to the circumstances surrounding Thakuria's death — a link that has not yet been established but cannot be ruled out, investigators indicated.
New Arrest and Key Accused in Custody
In a parallel development, police have taken Nitu Ali, also a resident of Baihata Chariali, into custody for questioning. Nitu Ali allegedly supplied alcohol to Ashik Ali and Thakuria at the homestay on the night of the incident.
The prime accused, Ashik Ali, has been remanded to eight days of police custody. Investigators are examining the sequence of events leading up to Thakuria becoming unconscious, the activities of all those present at the homestay, and the circumstances surrounding her death.
Background: How Thakuria Died
Thakuria was found unconscious at a homestay in the Garal locality of Guwahati and was subsequently declared dead at a hospital. Police have confirmed that she and Ashik Ali had visited the property on multiple earlier occasions. The exact cause of death remains under investigation as part of the ongoing probe.
What Investigators Are Focusing On
The investigation is now tracking three parallel threads: the movements and current whereabouts of the missing Rupam Saikia, the role of Nitu Ali in supplying alcohol, and the conduct of Ashik Ali during the hours Thakuria fell unconscious. Notably, the case has drawn wider attention in Assam given Thakuria's status as a university student and the involvement of a homestay property that had been visited repeatedly. How investigators reconcile Saikia's disappearance with the timeline of events at the homestay is likely to be decisive in determining the direction of the case.
Point of View
Not at home or at a known destination, suggests either panic or something more deliberate. Mainstream coverage has focused on the prime accused, Ashik Ali, but the full picture of what happened inside that homestay cannot be reconstructed without Saikia's account. Assam Police will need to move quickly: the longer Saikia remains untraceable, the harder it becomes to establish an airtight timeline — and the easier it becomes for the case to unravel in court.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rupam Saikia and why are police searching for him?
Rupam Saikia is a resident of Baihata Chariali who was reportedly present at the Guwahati homestay on the night Gauhati University student Nimisha Thakuria died. Police are searching for him because he is considered a key witness who can help establish the sequence of events leading to Thakuria's death, and his sudden disappearance has raised concern among investigators.
What happened to Nimisha Thakuria?
Nimisha Thakuria, a student of Gauhati University, was found unconscious at a homestay in the Garal locality of Guwahati and was subsequently declared dead at a hospital. The exact cause of death is under investigation; prime accused Ashik Ali has been remanded to eight days of police custody in connection with the case.
Who is the prime accused in the Gauhati University student death case?
The prime accused is Ashik Ali, who was reportedly at the homestay with Thakuria on the night she died. He has been remanded to eight days of police custody while investigators examine his conduct and the events leading up to Thakuria becoming unconscious.
Who is Nitu Ali and what is his alleged role?
Nitu Ali, also a resident of Baihata Chariali, has been taken into custody for questioning. He allegedly supplied alcohol to Ashik Ali and Nimisha Thakuria at the homestay on the night of the incident.
Where was Rupam Saikia's phone last traced?
According to police, Saikia's mobile phone was last traced to a field behind a company in the Rampur area of Guwahati. The phone has remained switched off since then, and investigators are examining whether his disappearance is linked to the circumstances of Thakuria's death.
