NORTH LAKHIMPUR: Entrepreneur Tanmoy Jyoti Dutta Phukan was found dead at his rented residence on Panindra Road on Friday morning, police said. A case was registered following complaints by his family.
Phukan, who owned Euphoria Unisex Salon in North Lakhimpur, was found lying on the bedroom floor with a portion of a bedsheet knotted around his neck. The other end was reportedly tied to a ventilator grill.
Manash Boiragi, his friend and manager at the salon, said Phukan's girlfriend, Payel, woke him at around 5.15 am and told him that something had happened. Boiragi said he found Phukan in the bedroom, with the bedsheet cut into two pieces, and took him to a nearby hospital with another friend. He was declared dead at the hospital.
“We have recorded the statements of the victim’s girlfriend and his friends. We are awaiting the post-mortem report. Further investigation into the death will proceed accordingly,” Lakhimpur Senior Superintendent of Police Gundendra Deka said.
Boiragi said Phukan had appeared normal until Thursday night, when the three cooked and shared dinner at the residence. He said Phukan came to sleep in his room at around 2 am, leaving his bedroom to Payel.
Friends alleged possible foul play and sought a thorough investigation. They raised questions over the condition of the bedsheet and a kitchen knife allegedly used to cut it. A metal water bottle was also reportedly found flattened near the body.
Police registered case No. 358/26 and reportedly summoned Payel twice for questioning. Statements of several of Phukan’s friends and employees were also recorded.
Phukan, a native of Bordoloni in Dhemaji district, had run the salon in North Lakhimpur for the past three years. Police said they were awaiting the post-mortem report.
