Police Shooting in Assam: Key Suspect in Hotel Shooting Dies in Custody Incident
Incident Overview
Ghanakanta Gogoi was rushed to Sivasagar Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead (Image Source)
Sivasagar, Nov 4: The main suspect in the shooting incident at Guwahati’s Hotel Bilas Inn, which resulted in five fatalities, was shot dead by police in Sivasagar district early Wednesday morning. This occurred shortly after he was taken into custody for a separate bank loan fraud investigation.
According to SSP Papori Chetia, Ghanakanta Gogoi was being transported by Sivasagar Police for questioning regarding a loan fraud case that dates back a decade when the incident unfolded around 3:10 AM in the Phulpanisiga area.
Reports indicate that Gogoi attempted to seize the service revolver from the investigating officer, SI Debashish Sharma, leading to a struggle during which he allegedly discharged three rounds.
“Upon reaching Gaurisagar, he requested to use the restroom. While being assisted out of the vehicle, he reportedly tried to grab the officer's firearm, resulting in a scuffle. During this altercation, Gogoi fired three shots from the officer’s weapon,” she explained to the media.
Gogoi was immediately taken to Sivasagar Civil Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. Meanwhile, Sharma was admitted to Joysagar Civil Hospital, where he is reported to be stable and out of danger.
This incident occurred just a day after Gogoi's seven-day police remand in connection with the Hotel Bilas Inn shooting had concluded.
On Tuesday, he was presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Guwahati and was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody before being transferred to Guwahati Central Jail.
Following this, Sivasagar Police took him into custody regarding an ongoing loan fraud case linked to the Punjab National Bank’s Sivasagar branch.
The circumstances surrounding Gogoi’s death have raised eyebrows, especially since his lawyer had previously voiced concerns in court about the potential for an encounter killing. The court had instructed police to ensure his safety while in custody, forbidding any form of custodial torture and mandating regular medical check-ups.
Additionally, the court ordered that a Deputy Superintendent of Police accompany him during evidence recovery operations and that sufficient security measures be implemented for his transport during nighttime hours.
In response to inquiries about the situation, Chetia stated that while Gogoi was safely transported from Guwahati, his actions during the journey posed a risk to the escort team.
"He represented a threat to our officers. An individual accused of murdering five people cannot be treated lightly. We had to act in self-defense to safeguard our personnel," SSP Chetia remarked.
This incident is expected to reignite discussions regarding police encounters in Assam, a topic that has been under legal scrutiny and public discourse.
In December 2021, Advocate Arif Jwadder filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with the Gauhati High Court, alleging that over 80 fake encounters had occurred in the state from May to December of that year.
Subsequent state government affidavits indicated that there were 171 police encounters reported between May 2021 and August 2022, resulting in 56 fatalities, including four deaths in custody, and 145 injuries.
The Gauhati High Court dismissed the petition in January 2023, stating that the allegations were vague and the petition was premature. Jwadder has since appealed this decision to the Supreme Court.
On May 28, 2025, the Supreme Court instructed the Assam Human Rights Commission to carry out an independent and swift investigation into the claims regarding the 171 encounters, emphasizing the necessity for oversight under the rule of law.
Gogoi’s death now brings renewed attention to the issues surrounding police shootings in cases where there have already been concerns regarding custodial safety.