A shocking murder in Guwahati has left residents stunned after a 25-year-old woman was allegedly killed by her husband following a quarrel, with police later recovering her severed head from a refrigerator at their rented home. The accused, identified as 30-year-old cab operator Ramanuj Goswami, was arrested after he surrendered to police.

The victim, Riya Talukdar Goswami, was found dead at the couple’s rented residence in Guwahati’s Beltola-Basisthapur area. Police said the woman’s body had been partially decomposed and decapitated, while some of her fingers had also been severed.

The disturbing incident came to light after neighbours noticed a foul smell coming from the locked house and alerted the police. The case has since triggered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the murder, the accused’s alleged motive and his conduct following the crime.

Guwahati murder case: What happened inside the house?

According to the police investigation so far, the alleged murder took place on the morning of September 3, following a quarrel between Riya and her husband.

Neighbours reportedly heard screams and sounds of an argument coming from the residence that morning. Police said Goswami subsequently left the house and locked it from outside. His departure without Riya reportedly raised suspicion among local residents.

The case remained undiscovered for several days. Police were eventually alerted after neighbours detected a foul smell coming from the locked residence.

When officers searched the house, they found Riya’s partially decomposed body. Her head was missing from the main body, prompting investigators to search the premises further.

The victim’s severed head was eventually recovered inside a black polythene bag placed in the refrigerator. Police also found some of her severed fingers, adding another disturbing dimension to the investigation.

Husband allegedly surrendered after fleeing the house

Goswami was not present at the residence when police arrived. Investigators said he had initially fled after the alleged killing.

He later surrendered at Hatigaon police station on Sunday night, following which he was arrested. A local court subsequently sent him to seven days of police custody.

Police are now questioning the accused to establish the precise sequence of events inside the house and determine what happened between the couple before the alleged killing. Investigators are also examining evidence recovered from the crime scene and checking whether anyone else could have been involved.

Alleged affair suspicion cited as trigger

Police have said the accused allegedly suspected his wife of being involved in an extramarital relationship. According to the preliminary investigation, this suspicion was reportedly one of the reasons behind frequent arguments between the couple.

Goswami allegedly told investigators that the couple had been quarrelling over various issues and that the argument on September 3 continued into the morning. Police said he claimed to have lost his temper during the confrontation before allegedly attacking his wife.

However, investigators have stressed that the circumstances and motive are still being examined. The allegations regarding an affair are based on the accused’s version and have not independently been established as fact.

The police are expected to verify his statement against physical evidence, forensic findings and the statements of people who knew the couple.

Murder weapon recovered from crime scene

Investigators have recovered a blood-stained dao, a traditional machete-like weapon, from the residence. The weapon is expected to undergo forensic examination as police attempt to establish its connection with the murder.

Empty alcohol bottles were also reportedly recovered from the house. Police said Goswami claimed that he had been drinking when he allegedly killed his wife.

The forensic examination could prove important in determining the sequence of events and corroborating or contradicting the accused’s account. Investigators are also examining other material evidence collected from the residence.

Couple had married less than a year ago

Riya and Goswami had reportedly known each other for several years before getting married. The couple married on September 22 last year, meaning the marriage had lasted less than a year before the alleged killing.

Riya, who was 25, was from Guwahati’s Noonmati area and worked at a boutique in the AC Market area of Fancy Bazar.

Her parents had reportedly died, while her brother lives in Noonmati. Goswami was originally from Gauripur in Assam’s Dhubri district and had been living in Guwahati for several years while working as a cab operator.

Police examining alleged history of domestic violence

The investigation is also looking into the couple’s relationship and the accused’s behavioural history.

According to information provided to police by Riya’s family, she and Goswami had been in a relationship for several years before their marriage. Family members also alleged that Goswami had a history of domestic violence.

Police were further told that he had spent around three months at a rehabilitation centre earlier this year. Investigators are examining these details as part of their effort to understand the background of the relationship and whether there were earlier warning signs of violence.

Foul smell led neighbours to the horrifying discovery

The case came to light only after the couple’s neighbours became concerned about their absence.

Residents reportedly told police that they had not seen the couple for around two days and that their phones were switched off. The foul smell coming from the locked residence eventually prompted them to alert authorities.

Police then broke open the lock and entered the premises, where they discovered the body.

The condition of the remains indicated that the victim had been dead for some time. Preliminary forensic findings suggested that Riya had been killed at least 24 hours before her severed head was recovered, while investigators continued to establish the exact timeline.

Autopsy to establish exact cause and timeline of death

Riya’s body and the recovered head were sent to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.

The autopsy is expected to help investigators determine the exact cause and manner of death, as well as provide further information about the timeline of the alleged murder.

Police are also awaiting forensic examination of the weapon and other evidence collected from the residence.

The accused is currently in police custody, and investigators are questioning him about what happened before, during and after the alleged killing.

Charges registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

Police have registered a case against Goswami under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 103(1), relating to murder, and Section 238, concerning causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender.

The investigation remains at a preliminary stage, and police have said that the available evidence is being examined before the full circumstances of the crime can be established.

The case has raised serious questions about the events leading up to the fatal confrontation, the alleged history of violence within the relationship and what happened in the days between the killing and the discovery of Riya’s body.

For now, the police investigation is focused on reconstructing the sequence of events inside the Guwahati residence and determining whether the accused’s account matches the physical and forensic evidence. The post-mortem findings, forensic examination and further questioning of the accused are likely to provide crucial answers in the case.

With input from agencies

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