Arrest of Key Suspect in Anwesha Saikia's Death Raises Questions
Key Suspect Arrested
Key accused Aryan Goswami after his arrest, on Tuesday night. (Photo)
Jorhat, Aug 19: After evading capture for several days, Aryan Goswami, the main suspect in the death of 18-year-old Anwesha Saikia, was apprehended by Jorhat Police in Rangajan, Golaghat, on Tuesday night.
Goswami was reportedly present at a gathering on August 15, where Anwesha became critically ill at Gauri Apartment in Dhaba Bora Chuk and subsequently died while being transported to the hospital.
Following his arrest, Goswami was taken to Jorhat Sadar Police Station for interrogation regarding the events leading to Anwesha's death.
During questioning, he denied any involvement in her death, asserting that she had taken drugs before collapsing. “I did not kill her. I was there to help. She was already on the ground when I arrived. I tried to revive her with salt, but she was unconscious,” he stated.
According to Goswami, Anwesha had come to his room with Monalisha, indicating she would stay for about half an hour. He claimed he was in another room when he realized she had allegedly overdosed.
“I asked her how much she had taken, but she didn’t respond and fell down. I panicked because there had been a previous overdose incident,” he explained.
While admitting to past drug use, Goswami claimed he had quit and now resides in Guwahati, working as a cab driver. “I used drugs a year or two ago, but I stopped. I now drive a cab in Guwahati,” he said.
The specifics of the drugs involved remain unclear, and authorities are awaiting the results of the victim's autopsy for further insights.
Conflicting Accounts on Drug Use
Monalisha, another suspect and friend of the victim, who was arrested earlier on Tuesday, supported Goswami's assertion that Anwesha had consumed drugs, while denying that she or others present had used any. “We did not kill her. She overdosed on drugs. Only she took them,” Monalisha stated.
She claimed she accompanied Anwesha without knowledge of the drug use. “She took me to Aryan’s room. I had no idea she was going there for drugs; otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone. Aryan, Ankit, and Anwesha had planned to use drugs, but Anwesha took them first and then fell ill,” she explained.
Monalisha also insisted that there was no party at the apartment and that Anwesha had purchased the drugs herself.
Another woman arrested, Arpita, denied any drug use, stating, “I never said I took drugs. Let the court and police decide.”
Police Investigation Continues
Earlier on Tuesday, police detained Monalisha and Arpita in connection with the case and also questioned Goswami’s mother, Jharna Goswami.
Jharna informed the police that she had been staying at her maternal home in Kakoti village for about 15 days due to her mother's illness. She confirmed that Aryan was at the flat during the incident.
“I was not home. I had been at my mother’s place for the last 15 days. He was at home on the day of the incident,” Jharna stated.
She refuted claims that she operated a rehabilitation center from the flat. “I have never been involved in any rehab center; those rumors are false. The flat is mine. Aryan returned home after being at a rehab center,” she clarified.
Jharna also mentioned that she had warned her son against drug use, but he did not heed her advice. “I told him not to take drugs, but he never listened,” she said.
Investigation Ongoing
The investigation revolves around the events of the night of August 15 at Gauri Apartment, where Anwesha was reportedly with friends. She fell critically ill during the gathering and died en route to the hospital.
The precise circumstances of her death are still under investigation. Authorities are working to determine whether her death was due to a drug overdose or another cause.
The conflicting testimonies from those present and the ongoing police inquiry are expected to play a significant role in uncovering the truth about what transpired that night.