GUWAHATI, Sept 14: Ramanuj Goswami, accused in the alleged murder of his wife Riya Talukdar, died early Monday after he allegedly attempted to escape from police custody while being taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for a medical examination, police said.
According to DCP (East) Tabu Ram Pegu, Goswami was being taken from Hatigaon towards GMCH around 2 am when the police vehicle developed a tyre puncture. After the tyre was replaced and the journey resumed, Goswami allegedly attacked an escorting constable, kicked him and opened the rear door of the vehicle near the nursing college before jumping out.
Police said he sustained severe injuries in the fall and was immediately taken to GMCH, where doctors declared him brought dead. Police also said he was not shot.
GMCH Superintendent Dr Debjit Choudhury said Goswami was brought to the casualty ward at around 3.41 am as a road accident victim and was declared brought dead. He said immediate tests, including an ECG, were conducted and further details would be available after a detailed postmortem. A preliminary examination found no bullet injury.
Goswami had been arrested in connection with the alleged murder of his wife at their residence in Guwahati’s Basisthapur area. Police had alleged that Riya was killed following an altercation linked to Goswami’s suspicion of her alleged extramarital relationship.
Riya’s body was recovered from a third-floor flat at Anjali Griha after her family alerted police. Hatigaon Police subsequently launched an investigation. Residents had told police that the couple frequently argued and that loud disturbances followed by what sounded like a woman crying were heard from the flat on Saturday.
Riya and Goswami had married around six months ago and lived together in the apartment. Goswami worked as an Uber driver and was originally from Gauripur, while Riya was from Noonmati and worked at a boutique in the AC Market area of Fancy Bazar.
Meanwhile, post-death rituals for Riya at Goswami’s family home in Ward No. 10 of Gauripur were reportedly disrupted after news of his death reached the family. The Adya Shraddha ceremony was halted amid distress among relatives, while the family restricted entry to the residence.
The circumstances surrounding Goswami’s death remained under investigation, with police examining the sequence of events, including the vehicle’s tyre puncture, replacement of the tyre and his alleged attempt to escape custody. His body was sent to the GMCH morgue for postmortem.
