Guwahati hotel shooting accused killed in police encounter in Sivasagar
Ghanakanta Gogoi died after allegedly attempting to snatch a service weapon while being transported in connection with a separate case.
The prime accused in the Guwahati hotel shooting that killed five people, Ghanakanta Gogoi, was killed in a police encounter in Assam's Sivasagar district early on Wednesday. According to reports from Rediff and Urban Acres, the incident occurred around 3.10 am at Gaurisagar when Gogoi was being taken to Sivasagar in connection with a 2024 bank fraud case.
Sivasagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Papori Chetia said Gogoi allegedly attempted to snatch the service weapon of investigating officer Sub-inspector Debasish Sarma after asking to stop to use the toilet. The SSP stated that a scuffle ensued, during which the officer was injured, prompting the Personal Security Officer (PSO) of the officer-in-charge to fire to protect the officer and prevent an escape.
Gogoi sustained a fatal bullet injury near his heart and was declared dead upon arrival at a hospital. The SSP noted that three bullets were fired from the investigating officer's weapon during the scuffle, though none hit a person and one hit the police vehicle.
The shooting at the Guwahati hotel on October 26, which the police linked to a lease and management dispute, resulted in the deaths of Bhudev Bharali, 65; Helena Bharali, 58; Debarshi Kashyap, 39; Rinika Kashyap, 30; and Narayan Das, 48. Satyendra Pathak, 43, was injured in that incident and was undergoing treatment at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Gogoi had been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody on Tuesday following the completion of his police remand in the hotel case. The Assam Police had previously formed a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Guwahati's Joint Commissioner of Police Ankur Jain to probe the hotel killings.