Accused in Guwahati hotel shooting shot dead in encounter

In a police encounter on November 4, 2026, in Sivasagar, India, the prime accused in the October 26 hotel shooting that killed five people was killed. The encounter occurred at 3.10 a.m. as police were transporting Ghanakanta Gogoi, 34, from Guwahati to Sivasagar in connection with a 2024 bank fraud case. Gogoi, who had been arrested within an hour of the shooting, allegedly attacked the police team and tried to escape custody.

During the struggle, three shots were fired from Gogoi's gun, and one officer was injured. The police had to use their own service revolver to neutralize the threat. The Sivasagar police had obtained a production warrant from a Guwahati court for the bank fraud case. Gogoi's lawyer had previously raised concerns about his safety in police custody, leading to a Guwahati court directing the police to ensure safeguards.

The victims of the hotel shooting included a mother-son duo and another individual. The Assam Police have now announced an investigation into the incident, which is the latest in a series of alleged police encounters in the state since May 2021. A total of 210 encounters have been recorded in Assam during this period, resulting in over 80 deaths and more than 180 injuries.

Human rights organizations have noted a significant surge in police shooting incidents between May 2021 and January 2024 compared to the previous period.