Guwahati shooting prime accused killed in police encounter in Sivasagar

The prime accused in the October 26 Guwahati hotel shooting that left five people dead was shot dead during an alleged police encounter in Sivasagar early Wednesday morning.

The Encounter

The incident took place at around 3.10 a.m. at Phulpanichiga under the Gaurisagar police station limits. Police were transporting 34-year-old Ghanakanta Gogoi from Guwahati to Sivasagar in connection with a 2024 bank fraud case. According to Sivasagar Senior Superintendent of Police Papori Chetia, Gogoi asked the vehicle to stop to relieve himself. He then attacked the team, tried to escape, and attempted to snatch an officer's service revolver. Three shots were fired during the scuffle, seriously injuring one officer. Another police personnel then used his service weapon to stop him.

Background and Motive

Gogoi had been arrested within an hour of the October 26 shooting. That attack claimed the lives of Bhudev Bharali, Helena Bharali, Debarshi Kashyap, Rinika Kashyap, and Narayan Das, while injuring another person. A Special Investigation Team formed by Assam Police found that the shooting stemmed from a property lease dispute, renovation expenses, and financial arrangements. Gogoi had leased the hotel from the Bharalis on September 10, 2025, with a monthly rent of ₹1.8 lakh. Investigators are also probing how he bought a .32-bore pistol and 40 rounds of ammunition from Dimapur in October 2024 for about ₹3 lakh.

Context

This incident adds to a high number of police encounters recorded in Assam since May 2021, which have drawn close scrutiny from human rights groups. State authorities maintain that suspects often sustain injuries or death while attempting to escape custody or snatch weapons during investigations.