Guwahati/Sivasagar: Ghanakanta Gogoi, the prime accused in the sensational Guwahati Hotel Bilas Inn shooting case in which five people were killed, died in a police encounter in Assam’s Sivasagar district early on Wednesday while being brought from Guwahati in connection with a separate case, officials said.
The incident took place at around 3.10 a.m. at Phulapani Chiga, between Gaurisagar and Jhanji in Sivasagar district.
According to police sources, a team of Sivasagar Police had rearrested Gogoi from Guwahati Central Jail in connection with a 2024 case registered at Sivasagar Police Station involving allegations linked to a Punjab National Bank car loan.
Police said Gogoi allegedly attacked members of the escort team and attempted to escape near Rongmon Dhaba at Phulapani Chiga while being taken to Sivasagar.
During the incident, police opened fire, in which Gogoi sustained injuries and died at the spot.
A police officer was also injured in the incident, officials said. Senior Superintendent of Police, Sivasagar, Papori Chetia, is expected to provide further details on the incident.
Gogoi, 34, had emerged as the prime accused in the October 26 firing at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati’s Bora Service area. Five people, including four members of a business family, were killed. One person was also injured in the shooting.
Police had arrested Gogoi soon after the incident and recovered a licensed .32-bore pistol allegedly used in the crime.
Investigators had said that a dispute over the lease and management of the hotel had preceded the shooting.
On Tuesday, a Guwahati court sent Gogoi to judicial custody after his police remand ended.
Hours later, Sivasagar Police formally arrested him in connection with the 2024 case.
According to officials, the Sivasagar case was registered following a complaint by the then Punjab National Bank manager, who alleged that Gogoi had defaulted on a car loan and threatened him over the repayment issue.
The Guwahati hotel firing case had triggered widespread outrage across Assam, with police constituting a Special Investigation Team to probe the killings.
(IANS)
