NEW DELHI: Assamese actress Nandini Kashyap was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday (July 30) in connection with the July 25 hit-and-run case that claimed the life of a 21-year-old polytechnic student, who was also a part-time municipal worker.
Her arrest came after days of police interrogation and mounting pressure from student bodies and civil society organisations demanding justice.
Kashyap was detained in North Guwahati late Tuesday night and brought to Dispur Police Station for preliminary questioning before being shifted to the All Women Police Station in Panbazar, where her arrest was formally recorded at around 1.30am.
Police confirmed that Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to culpable homicide, has now been added to the case.
The fatal incident took place on the night of July 25 in Guwahati’s Dakhingaon area, where Samiul Haque, a second-year student at Nalbari Polytechnic and a temporary employee with the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, was hit by a speeding vehicle allegedly driven by Kashyap.
Eyewitnesses reported that the car did not stop after the collision. Samiul was first taken to Gauhati Medical College and later shifted to Apollo Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following evening.
The tragedy sparked widespread outrage across the state, with the All Assam Polytechnic Students’ Union (AAPSU) filing an FIR and organising protests demanding immediate arrest and accountability.
Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and eyewitness accounts to piece together the sequence of events.
Officials have indicated that additional legal provisions may be added depending on the final forensic and post-mortem reports.
In response to allegations of indifference, Nandini Kashyap’s family issued a public statement expressing sorrow over the incident.
Her mother stated that the family had attempted to help Samiul from the beginning, mentioning that Nandini’s father went to the hospital with money but was stopped and threatened by a group of youths.
She also explained that the family was advised by the police to avoid public appearances for safety reasons. - The Statesman/ANN
