Guwahati Hotel Shooting Accused Ghanakanta Gogoi Killed in Police Encounter

Ghanakanta Gogoi, accused of carrying out the murders over a dispute involving the lease of a hotel, was being taken to Sibsagar, around 350 km from Guwahati, when the incident occurred at approximately 3:12 am.

According to Sibsagar Senior Superintendent of Police Papori Chetia, the incident took place when the police team reached Gaurisagar. Gogoi told the officers that he wanted to answer nature's call. After getting out of the vehicle, he allegedly attempted to snatch the service weapon of the investigating officer, triggering a scuffle.

"When the team reached Gaurisagar, he said he wanted to answer nature's call. After he got down from the vehicle, he tried to snatch the service weapon of the investigating officer. A scuffle ensued,” Chetia said.

She added that another policeman fired his service weapon to protect the senior officer during the confrontation.

“At this juncture, another policeman fired from his service weapon to save his senior officer. This led to Gogoi sustaining bullet injuries. He was taken to Sibsagar civil hospital where he was declared brought dead. One of our officers, who sustained injuries, has also been admitted there," she said.

The shooting that led to Gogoi's arrest took place on October 26. He allegedly opened fire on six people, including the owner of Hotel Bilas Inn, which he had taken on lease. Five people, including hotel owner Helena Bharali (58), died on the spot.

The incident occurred near the Bora Service area. Investigators suspect that a dispute over the hotel's lease prompted the shooting. Officials had earlier said that a detailed investigation was underway to establish the circumstances behind the murders.

Gogoi was arrested on the same day as the shooting. After spending a week in police custody, he was sent to judicial custody by a Guwahati court on Tuesday. However, Sibsagar district police arrested him again the same evening in connection with a separate case and were transporting him to Sibsagar when he allegedly attempted to escape.

Following the killings, family members of the deceased had demanded 'instant justice' rather than allowing the accused to face the proper legal process.

Subsequently, a district court in Kamrup Metro district directed Guwahati police not to take Gogoi out of jail after sunset after he sought adequate security. The court also instructed the police to ensure his safety while in custody.

Commenting on the court's directions and the circumstances surrounding the encounter, Chetia said the police had taken precautions while transporting the accused.

"The court's directions are part of a process. But Gogoi is a criminal and also a shooter involved in a heinous crime. We were taking adequate care to ensure the team reached Sibsagar from Guwahati without any glitch, but there was a threat to the police team from Gogoi. Despite our efforts, our team had to resort to extreme measures to protect our team members," she said.

Chetia also revealed that Gogoi was an accused in a cheating and forgery case registered in Sibsagar. He had allegedly obtained a loan to purchase a vehicle using dubious means. Following the registration of a case, police had been searching for him.

Initial investigations into the hotel shooting revealed that Helena Bharali and her family originally belonged to Barpeta. They had shifted to Guwahati nearly two decades ago to establish businesses. Gogoi had reportedly been in contact with the family for several years.

Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta had earlier said that Gogoi had taken the hotel on lease from Bharali approximately a year before the shooting. A dispute between them is suspected to have escalated into the firing.

“As far as our initial investigation is concerned, Gogoi had taken the hotel on lease from Bharali around a year ago, and they were involved in a dispute that could have led to the firing,” Mahanta had said.

The encounter has brought the case into focus again, with the accused's death during police custody raising questions surrounding the circumstances of the shooting, the separate cheating and forgery case, and the legal proceedings that followed his arrest.