Guwahati, Aug. 26: A 26-year-old model and actor, Sweety Baruah, was found dead in her bedroom at Livin Apartments in Bora Service area here today.

The victim, who hailed from Golaghat, lived here with her two sisters. Police said, "Her sisters slept in another bedroom in the same flat. They said when they entered her room this morning at 11, she was lying dead on her bed."

Sweety had featured in a television advertisement made by NRC authorities to create public awareness about the ongoing update in the state.

"The blood clot inside her mouth and light abrasions on her arms could be signs of a struggle. From all these, it seems to be a murder," a police source said. It is suspected she died of internal haemorrhage.

" Only the post-mortem report can confirm the cause of death," the source said.

The post-mortem will be conducted at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital tomorrow.

A case has been registered in this connection at Paltan Bazar police station.

Sweety's sister told police that Nibaran Lahkar alias Neil, a constable of Railway Protection Force (RPF), had come to meet her around 10.30 last night.

"The security guard of the apartment had seen Lahkar go out around 2am. We are searching for Lahkar, who is absconding," the source said.

Sweety's aunt, Sikmik Baruah, said Lahkar was trying to woo Sweety, who was married and had a seven-year-old child. Her husband, a junior engineer in the agriculture department, lives with her child in Golaghat.

"Around six months ago, Lahkar befriended Sweety and since then had been coercing her to get into a relationship. She refused him many times and also told him that she was married. He had earlier slashed his arms and banged his head on the wall when she refused his proposal," Sweety's aunt said.