Guwahati: Prominent Assamese film actress Nandini Kashyap was arrested early Wednesday in connection with a hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a 21-year-old youth in the Dakkhingaon area of Guwahati.
Kashyap, who recently played the lead in the box office hit Rudra, was allegedly behind the wheel of an SUV that fatally struck Samiul Haque, a polytechnic student, in the early hours of Friday, July 25. Following the collision, she reportedly attempted to flee the scene, but was chased down by the victim’s friends to an apartment complex in Kahilipara.
Samiul, a student at Nalbari Polytechnic Institute, was returning home after working a late shift repairing streetlights under the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). Critically injured, he was initially rushed to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and later shifted to Apollo Hospital for advanced treatment. He succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Jayanta Sarathi Borah, confirmed that Kashyap was formally arrested at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, following a long interrogation session. “We produced her in court and sought five days of police remand,” he said.
An FIR had been registered immediately after the accident, though initially under bailable sections. After Haque’s death, the case was escalated with the inclusion of non-bailable charges. CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts confirmed that the SUV did not stop after hitting the two-wheeler. Police also revealed that the vehicle had a history of traffic violations, including repeated challans for overspeeding.
“This is not her first offence,” DCP Borah added. “She has previously been booked for rash driving and other traffic-related incidents.”
Despite the growing criticism, Nandini Kashyap addressed the media following her arrest. “This was an unfortunate accident. Nobody wants to run over somebody. I’ve been cooperating with the police from the beginning. I was the one who made the first call after the accident and reported to the police station voluntarily on Tuesday,” she said.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage in Guwahati, with calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and accountability from public figures. Police investigations are ongoing.
