Ashik Ali, a key accused in the death of a Gauhati University student, was shot in the leg by police early Tuesday after he allegedly attempted to escape while being taken to a location in Assam's Kamrup Metropolitan district. The incident took place at around 3:30 am while a police team was transporting Ali from Dharapur towards the Azara area of Guwahati as part of the ongoing investigation.

According to preliminary information, Ali allegedly tried to flee during the journey, prompting the police team to fire at him. He sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and was subsequently taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for treatment. Further details about his medical condition and the circumstances surrounding the firing were awaited.

Ali is among the accused in the case involving the death of the student, who was found critically injured at a homestay in the Garal-Dharapur area on September 26. She was initially taken to a nearby health facility before being shifted to GMCH, where she was declared dead. Police registered a case after finding injury marks on her body and began questioning people associated with the homestay.

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During questioning, Ali reportedly claimed that the student had died by suicide after hanging herself from a ceiling fan. Police have been examining that account against other evidence gathered during the investigation. Investigators have also questioned the homestay's caretakers, staff and owner while examining guest records and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The investigation further led to the arrest of a homestay employee over allegations of tampering with evidence. Other people connected with Ali were also questioned as investigators sought to establish what happened inside the premises before the student was found injured. Ali was subsequently booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and remanded to police custody for further questioning.

The circumstances of Tuesday's firing are now also expected to come under scrutiny as part of the investigation. Police will need to establish how Ali allegedly attempted to escape, what prompted the use of firearms and the precise circumstances in which he sustained the gunshot injury.

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