Dimasa apex bodies demand CBI or SIT probe into mysterious death of Rashmita Hojai in Uttarakhand

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 10, 2025

The death of 25-year-old civil services aspirant Rashmita Hojai, under mysterious circumstances in Uttarakhand, has sparked serious concern and public outrage among the Dimasa community in Assam. Her body was found on Monday after she had gone missing on June 6 during a trip to Rishikesh.

In response, three major Dimasa organizations—Jadikhe Naisho Hosom (JNH), Dimasa Students’ Union (DSU), and the Dimasa Mothers’ Association (DMA)—have submitted a joint memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident.

Rashmita, a resident of Sontila Hojai village in Dima Hasao district, had travelled to Delhi for a Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exam. However, she unexpectedly proceeded to Rishikesh on June 6 with two male acquaintances—Hemant Sharma, a former classmate from Haryana, and another unidentified friend—for a camping trip in Shivpuri. That same evening, her companions reported her missing. An eyewitness claimed to have seen a woman drowning in the nearby river, prompting rescue efforts by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

Initially presumed drowned, Rashmita’s body was later recovered, raising suspicions. While Haridwar police are probing multiple angles—including suicide—no conclusive evidence has been found.

Back in Assam, Rashmita’s family had lodged a missing report with the Haflong Police Station after losing contact with her on June 6. Her mother, Solmodi Hojai, confirmed that Rashmita had travelled alone for her exam and was scheduled to return home immediately to appear for the APSC Preliminary Exam, for which she had been preparing for several years.

In their memorandum, the Dimasa organizations questioned how Rashmita ended up in Rishikesh at such a critical time in her academic career. They emphasized that she had even discussed skipping the RRB exam to focus on her civil services preparation, and thus could not have gone on the camping trip willingly.

Describing Rashmita as a bright B.Tech graduate, morally upright, and deeply committed to public service, the organizations expressed grave concern over the circumstances of her death. They called the incident a “heinous crime” and demanded justice not only for Rashmita and her family but also to protect other young aspirants from similar fates.

“The truth must come out. A thorough and impartial investigation must be conducted to identify and hold accountable those responsible,” the memorandum reads. It was signed by Kailen Daolagupu (President, JNH), Pramith Sengyung (General Secretary, DSU), and Bimala Langthasa (President, DMA).

They urged the central government to act swiftly, warning that continued silence could undermine the safety of young talents and the integrity of the justice system in the country.