Guwahati This Week: Murder Case Fallout, Cyber Fraud Alert, and UK Diplomatic Milestone
Guwahati dominated headlines this week with three sharply contrasting stories: the violent end of a high-profile murder case, a growing wave of digital scams preying on senior citizens, and a diplomatic visit that signalled the city's rising stature on the global stage. From the courtrooms and police vehicles to banking apps and international lounges, the city's week was marked by urgency, vulnerability, and quiet ambition.
Murder Accused Ramanuj Goswami Dies During Police Custody Transfer
Ramanuj Goswami, the man accused of murdering his wife and hiding her severed head inside a refrigerator, died in the early hours of Monday, September 14, after allegedly jumping from a moving police vehicle near Narakasur Hills in Guwahati. Police said Goswami was being transported from Hatigaon toward Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) through Kahilipara for a blood test when he made the fatal leap in an apparent escape attempt. The incident occurred at approximately 3 AM, when police vehicles pass through one of the city's more desolate stretches. Goswami had been in custody following his arrest in a case that had shocked the city — the murder of his wife, with allegations that he had vowed to kill her so-called 'sugar daddy' as well. Authorities transported him to GMCH following the incident, where he was declared dead. In a subsequent statement that added further intrigue, the GMCH Superintendent confirmed that no bullet injury was found on Goswami's body, effectively ruling out allegations of police violence. The case drew coverage from ANI News, India Today, NE NOW, Times of India, and G Plus News, all reporting on the circumstances surrounding the death and the autopsy findings. Senior Assam Police officials stated that a departmental inquiry would be conducted to examine the events leading to Goswami's death while in custody. [3]
🤝 Cyber Frauds Increasingly Target Guwahati's Senior Residents
A detailed investigation by The Assam Tribune has exposed a sharp rise in cyber fraud cases targeting elderly residents of Guwahati, with scammers exploiting their unfamiliarity with digital systems to impersonate pension officials, healthcare card administrators, and government welfare agencies. According to an official of the Guwahati cybercrime cell of Assam Police, the department receives at least 140 cases per month — a figure that authorities warn underrepresents the actual scale, as many victims, particularly the elderly, feel too embarrassed or confused to report. Fraudsters have been reaching out via phone and messaging apps to trick senior citizens into sharing their Aadhaar numbers, bank account details, and one-time passwords, claiming to help with pension updates or medical card renewals. Victims are often left facing depleted savings accounts within hours. Police are urging families to hold regular digital literacy sessions with their elderly relatives, and the cybercrime cell has published a helpline for residents to report suspicious calls. The department has also launched outreach campaigns in residential areas with high concentrations of retired government employees, who tend to be more vulnerable to pension-related scams. Community organisations are being encouraged to partner with law enforcement to spread awareness across Guwahati's residential zones. [8]
🏢 UK Envoy Praises Guwahati Airport; CM Sarma Sees New Chapter in Bilateral Ties
The British High Commissioner to India paid a visit to Guwahati this week, offering warm praise for the city's international airport and its modernised infrastructure, a development that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called a potential turning point in relations between the United Kingdom and Assam. The UK envoy's remarks, reported by The Hans India, highlighted Guwahati's growing role as a gateway to the entire Northeast Indian region — a gateway that British businesses and diplomats have historically underutilised. CM Sarma welcomed the visit enthusiastically, saying that it could open a new chapter in regional ties, pointing to possibilities in trade, tourism, higher education, and infrastructure investment. Guwahati's recently upgraded airport, which serves as the main hub for Northeast India, has drawn considerable attention for its expanded capacity and improved passenger experience. The UK's interest is seen as part of a broader realignment of British engagement with secondary Indian cities beyond the traditional hubs of Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. For Guwahati, which has been building its profile as a destination for both domestic and international investment, the diplomatic visit is a meaningful endorsement of the progress made over the past several years under state-level development initiatives. [10]
Sources: [3] The Hindu · [8] The Assam Tribune · [10] The Times of India