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Ghanakanta Gogoi, the prime accused in the deadly Bilas Inn shooting in Guwahati, allegedly attempted to snatch a police officer’s service revolver during a custody transfer, Sivasagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Papori Chetia said on Wednesday. She also described him as a trained shooter with experience handling different firearms.
According to the SSP, the incident occurred early on November 4 near Phulpanisiga in Sivasagar district. Police opened fire during the alleged struggle, leaving Gogoi critically injured. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
The police statement has brought fresh attention to the circumstances surrounding the death of the accused, who was facing investigation in the October 26 shooting that killed five people at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati.
Ghanakanta Gogoi allegedly tried to seize police revolver
SSP Papori Chetia said a police team was transporting Ghanakanta Gogoi from Guwahati to Sivasagar in connection with a separate case. During the journey, the team reportedly stopped near Phulpanisiga, within the Gaurisagar police station area.
According to Chetia, Gogoi requested permission to step out of the vehicle to relieve himself. However, police alleged that he attempted to escape and tried to seize the service weapon of the investigating officer.
The alleged attempt led to a physical struggle between Gogoi and the police personnel. Chetia said three rounds were fired from the officer’s service revolver during the confrontation.
She added that the investigating officer suffered serious injuries during the scuffle. Another officer accompanying the team then opened fire to prevent further assault and stop Gogoi from escaping.
SSP describes Ghanakanta Gogoi as trained shooter
Chetia emphasised Gogoi’s alleged familiarity with firearms while explaining the circumstances of the incident. She described him as a trained professional shooter who had experience handling different types of weapons.
According to the SSP, the police team had taken precautions while transporting him because of his background and the cases registered against him.
The officer-in-charge of Sivasagar Sadar Police Station was also present during the operation. He reportedly fired his service weapon after the confrontation escalated.
Gogoi sustained bullet injuries and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival, according to the police.
The SSP also confirmed that one officer suffered serious injuries and was admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for treatment. Another personnel sustained minor injuries. The police vehicle was also reportedly hit during the exchange of fire.
Separate case led to Ghanakanta Gogoi’s transfer
The police operation was linked to a separate case registered in Sivasagar in 2024. Chetia said Gogoi was wanted in a Punjab National Bank loan fraud case involving an excavator.
According to the SSP, Gogoi had allegedly obtained a loan by submitting forged documents. The bank later examined the documents and lodged a complaint, leading to the registration of a case against him.
Police said Gogoi was wanted in six cases. Investigators had also received information that he could help them recover weapons from a location in the Gorisagar area.
Chetia said Gogoi had agreed to lead the police team to the location for the recovery. The team was therefore taking him to Sivasagar when the alleged escape attempt occurred.
Police had obtained a production warrant from a Guwahati court to take him into custody in connection with the separate case. The transfer took place after Gogoi’s earlier police custody in the Bilas Inn shooting case ended.
He had been sent to judicial custody on Tuesday, November 3, following the completion of his seven-day police remand.
Bilas Inn shooting left five people dead
Ghanakanta Gogoi was the prime accused in the October 26 shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati’s Bora Service area. The incident shocked the city after five people lost their lives and another person sustained injuries.
The shooting reportedly followed a dispute involving the hotel’s ownership, lease and management. Investigators were examining the circumstances surrounding the violence and the alleged property-related disagreement.
Four people were found dead at the hotel, while two injured people were taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. One of the injured later succumbed to the injuries, taking the death toll to five.
Gogoi was arrested within an hour of the shooting, according to reports. Police subsequently investigated his alleged role in the killings and questioned him during the initial period of custody.
The case involved several victims, including members of a family associated with the hotel. The deaths triggered widespread concern over the circumstances that led to the attack.
Questions remain over circumstances of police firing
The SSP’s account provides the police version of the events that led to Gogoi’s death. However, the incident also places the circumstances of the fatal police firing under public scrutiny.
The alleged attempt to seize a service revolver, the exchange of gunfire and the injuries suffered by police personnel form the central elements of the official explanation.
Meanwhile, the death of the prime accused means that criminal proceedings against him in the Bilas Inn shooting case cannot continue against him personally. However, investigations into the circumstances of the October 26 killings remain important for establishing the full sequence of events.
The separate loan fraud allegations also formed part of the cases police had registered against him.
The developments have added another significant chapter to the Bilas Inn shooting case. While police have described the firing as a response to an alleged attack and escape attempt, further clarity on the incident will depend on the examination of the available evidence and official records.
For now, the SSP’s statement remains the principal account of the events surrounding the fatal confrontation in Sivasagar.