Daijiworld Media Network – Rishikesh
Rishikesh, Jun 16: The suspicious deaths of two young women from Assam one in Uttarakhand and the other in Gujarat have triggered widespread outrage and prompted Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to call for independent investigations into both cases.
Rosmita Hojai (25), a native of Dima Hasao district, was found dead in the Ganga river near Rishikesh on June 10, five days after she went missing. Hojai had travelled to Delhi for a railway recruitment exam and was last heard from on June 5. Her body was discovered with no external injuries, and police initially suggested drowning as the cause of death.
Her family, however, has rejected the drowning theory, pointing to several unanswered questions. “She was to return home on June 5 and had called her mother that day. Then her phone went off. How did she end up in Uttarakhand?” a family member asked.
The Dimasa Students’ Union (DSU) and other groups staged protests demanding a high-level probe. DSU president Promit Sengyung said, “Our youth seek better opportunities in cities, but safety remains a huge concern. This case must not be ignored.”
CM Sarma wrote to Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, urging for an impartial inquiry. In response, Dhami assured a detailed and transparent probe.
In a separate incident, Shiwali Kashyap (24), an interior designer from Sivasagar district, was found dead in Ahmedabad on June 12. Gujarat police said she allegedly jumped from the second floor of an apartment she shared with her partner, Saurav Purohit.
Her mother, Bibha Majindar Baruah, dismissed the suicide theory, claiming Shiwali showed no signs of distress during a phone call just 30 minutes before the incident. “I suspect foul play,” she said.
The Assam CM has assured the family of full support. Gujarat Police said investigations are underway and have interrogated Purohit. Prima facie, the case appears to be a fall from the balcony, said a senior officer.
Shiwali’s body was flown back to Assam on Sunday and handed over to her grieving family.
Both deaths have sparked a strong emotional response in Assam, with calls for justice and greater safety for women working and studying outside the state.