The Hatigaon murder investigation has brought several conflicting claims under the police scanner
The investigation into the murder of 25-year-old Riya Talukdar Goswami in Guwahati has entered a crucial stage, with police cautioning against unverified claims surrounding the case and saying that several reports circulating in the public domain have not emerged during interrogation.
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Riya was killed by her husband, Ramanuj Goswami, during an altercation at their rented residence at Basisthapur Bylane in the Hatigaon area on September 3. Police recovered her body three days later, on the night of September 6, after her family alerted authorities when the couple stopped responding to repeated phone calls.
Police said Goswami, a driver by profession, subsequently surrendered before Dispur Police and was handed over to Hatigaon Police, which is investigating the case. During interrogation, he confessed to killing his wife, saying he had lost his temper during an altercation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Guwahati, T R Pegu, said police were examining the circumstances surrounding the couple's frequent disputes, including allegations made by Goswami about his wife's alleged relationship with another person. However, police said no evidence had emerged during interrogation to substantiate the involvement of a third person in the crime.
The case has also been accompanied by a series of claims that police have described as misleading. Reports suggesting that Goswami had planned to feed his wife's body to dogs were not supported by anything that emerged during interrogation, police sources said. Similarly, claims that Riya's fingers were missing were also described as untrue.
"There were several ill-informed reports over these past few days involving this heinous crime. These should be avoided," a police source said, stressing that inaccurate reporting could potentially affect the legal process.
Investigators have seized the refrigerator in which Riya's remains were recovered, along with clothes and a sharp weapon suspected to have been used in the crime. CID and Forensic Science Laboratory teams examined the scene and collected exhibits as part of the investigation.
Goswami was also taken to the residence on Wednesday for reconstruction of the crime scene. Police said a sharp machete was used in the killing.
The recovery of the body three days after the killing has also led investigators to examine the sequence of events inside the rented residence during the intervening period. Police are looking into how the body was kept inside the house and the circumstances that followed the killing.
Goswami was produced before a court on Tuesday and was remanded in police custody for seven days, till September 13. His custody has allowed investigators to question him further about the killing, the circumstances surrounding the altercation and the events that followed.
During his court appearance, Goswami reportedly said he had no regrets and referred to a person he suspected of having a relationship with his wife. He also made an aggressive statement about killing the individual after serving his sentence.
A day later, however, Goswami struck a different tone while being taken for a medical examination. He said he accepted his faults and urged others not to repeat such a mistake in their lives.
The contrasting statements have also become part of the circumstances surrounding the case as investigators continue questioning him. Police are examining his account of the events and will have to establish the sequence of events leading up to and following the killing on September 3.
The couple had married only a few months before the incident. Police are also examining Goswami's background and the circumstances leading to the repeated disputes between the couple.
Sources said Goswami had a history of drug addiction and had been sent to rehabilitation centres on several occasions. His background is being examined as investigators try to understand the circumstances surrounding the repeated disputes and the events that preceded the killing.
Police have, however, maintained that the investigation will remain focused on evidence collected during the probe rather than claims circulating outside the investigation.
The seizure of the refrigerator, clothes and the suspected weapon, along with forensic examination of the residence, is expected to form part of the evidence being examined by investigators. The reconstruction of the crime scene was also carried out to help establish the sequence of events and assess the accused's account.
Meanwhile, Riya was cremated in Guwahati in the presence of police officials.
The investigation remains focused on establishing the sequence of events leading to the September 3 killing, the circumstances in which the body was kept inside the residence and the claims made by the accused about his wife's alleged relationship.
Police have maintained that conclusions will be drawn on the basis of evidence gathered during the investigation rather than unverified reports. The seven-day police custody of Goswami, which continues till September 13, is expected to be important as investigators further examine the circumstances surrounding the case and verify the statements made during interrogation.