The principal accused in the Hotel Bilas Inn shooting was fatally shot during an alleged attempt to seize a police officer’s weapon. The incident occurred hours after he was sent to judicial custody in Guwahati.
Guwahati, November 4, 2026: An overnight journey to Sivasagar for questioning in an unrelated criminal case ended in the death of Ghanakanta Gogoi, the 34-year-old businessman accused in the Hotel Bilas Inn shooting that left five people dead in Guwahati last month.
Gogoi died following police firing in the Gaurisagar area of Assam’s Sivasagar district early Wednesday morning. Police claimed that he attempted to overpower an investigating officer and seize his service pistol while being transported from Guwahati.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:10 am near Phulpanichiga, bringing an unexpected development to one of Assam’s most widely reported recent criminal investigations.
What Happened During the Police Transfer?
Sivasagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Papori Chetia said Gogoi was travelling under police escort when he requested permission to step outside the vehicle to relieve himself.
According to the police account, he allegedly attempted to grab the service pistol of Sub-Inspector Debashish Sharma, who was part of the escort team.
A struggle reportedly followed, during which multiple rounds were discharged from the firearm. Police said two bullets struck the vehicle.
Another member of the police team then opened fire, reportedly to prevent further harm to the investigating officer.
Gogoi sustained gunshot injuries and was transported to a hospital, where medical personnel declared him dead.
Sharma also sustained an injury to his leg during the confrontation. Police subsequently described his condition as stable.
The account of the alleged weapon-snatching attempt has been provided by police. The circumstances of the shooting have not been independently established.
Separate Bank Fraud Case Led to Sivasagar Transfer
Gogoi’s movement from Guwahati followed developments in a separate criminal investigation involving allegations of financial fraud.
Police said a case registered in 2024 concerned a bank loan allegedly obtained through fraudulent documentation.
Investigators claimed that Gogoi had secured financing for an excavator using forged papers, following which discrepancies in the documents were reportedly identified.
The case involved Punjab National Bank, according to reports citing the Sivasagar police.
Gogoi had been remanded to judicial custody in Guwahati on November 3 following the completion of police custody in the Hotel Bilas Inn shooting investigation.
Sivasagar Police subsequently took him into custody in connection with the separate case.
The fatal incident occurred while he was being taken to Sivasagar.
Earlier Court Proceedings Had Addressed Custodial Safety
The death also comes days after Gogoi’s lawyers raised concerns about his safety during police custody.
During an earlier court hearing in Guwahati, the defence expressed apprehension about a possible police encounter.
The court responded by imposing safeguards for the period of police custody, including medical examinations, protection against mistreatment and specific arrangements for investigative procedures.
The earlier directions were issued in connection with the Guwahati investigation. Their applicability to the subsequent transfer in the separate Sivasagar case has not been established.
Hotel Bilas Inn Shooting Left Five Dead
Gogoi had emerged as the principal accused in the October 26 shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn, situated in Guwahati’s Bora Service area.
Five people lost their lives in the incident, while another suffered gunshot injuries.
The deceased were identified as Helena Bharali, 58; her brother Bhudev Bharali, 65; her son Debarshi Kashyap, 39; daughter-in-law Rinika Kashyap, 30; and Narayan Das, 48.
Satyendra Pathak, 43, survived the attack after sustaining injuries.
Initial police findings suggested that the violence arose from disagreements over the lease and management of the hotel.
Gogoi had reportedly taken the establishment on lease, but disputes subsequently developed between him and the property owners.
A meeting intended to address the disagreement allegedly escalated into a confrontation, during which Gogoi was accused of firing at those present.
He was arrested shortly after the incident, and police recovered a licensed .32-bore pistol allegedly connected to the shooting.
SIT Was Investigating Circumstances of Guwahati Killings
Following the deaths, Guwahati Police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the shooting.
Investigators examined the suspected motive, firearm-related evidence and circumstances surrounding the confrontation at the hotel.
On November 2, the team returned to the crime scene with Gogoi to reconstruct the sequence of events using dummy figures and a replica weapon.
The reconstruction was part of efforts to verify the available evidence and establish how the shooting unfolded.
Gogoi’s subsequent death in Sivasagar marks a significant development in the case, which had already attracted considerable public attention.
The police account of the November 4 incident describes the firing as a response to an alleged threat to an officer. Any definitive finding about the circumstances of his death would require examination of the relevant evidence and official investigative findings.
Sources: Press Trust of India, The Indian Express, NDTV and regional news reports published through November 4, 2026.
