Guwahati Shooting Accused Dies After Attempting to Snatch Police Pistol
Accused Ghanakanta Gogoi died after police firing in Sivasagar while allegedly attempting to snatch an officer's pistol.
The legal proceedings against Ghanakanta Gogoi, the prime accused in a brutal shooting spree that claimed five lives in Guwahati, have come to a violent end. Gogoi died following a police encounter in Assam's Sivasagar district after he allegedly tried to seize a police officer's service weapon during transit.
The Fatal Struggle in Sivasagar
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Papori Chetia, the incident occurred while Gogoi was being transported from Guwahati to Sivasagar in connection with Sivasagar Police Station Case No. 108/26. The situation escalated when Gogoi requested to step out of the police vehicle at Phulpanichiga to relieve himself.
As he exited the vehicle, Gogoi reportedly launched a sudden attack on Sub-Inspector Debashish Sharma, who was not only escorting him but was also the investigating officer in the case. SSP Chetia highlighted that Gogoi, being a trained professional shooter, attempted to snatch Sharma's service pistol.
The ensuing scuffle turned chaotic, with two to three rounds fired during the struggle. Two of these bullets struck the police vehicle. To protect the officer from further assault and injury, another police personnel accompanying the team opened fire with their service weapon.
Casualties and Injuries
Gogoi sustained critical injuries during the police firing. Despite efforts to rush him to a hospital, he succumbed to his wounds while in transit.
Sub-Inspector Debashish Sharma was also injured in the fray, sustaining a wound to his right leg. When questioned about the officer's current state, SSP Chetia confirmed that he is now in stable condition.
The Backdrop: The Guwahati Massacre
Ghanakanta Gogoi was the central figure in a horrifying incident that shook Guwahati on October 26. The Paltan Bazar Police Station had received reports of multiple gunshots around 9 pm that night. Upon arriving at a hotel, police discovered a gruesome scene: four people lay dead in the reception area, while two others were found injured on the approach road.
The injured victims were rushed to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where one later died, bringing the total death toll to five. One survivor continues to receive medical treatment.
The Victims of the Shooting
The individuals killed in the initial Guwahati attack were identified as:
- Bhudev Bharali (65), a resident of Barpeta.
- Narayan Das (48), also a resident of Barpeta.
- Debarshi Kashyap (39), from Nabin Nagar, Guwahati.
- Rinika Kashyap (30), from Nabin Nagar, Guwahati.
- Helena Bharali (58), from Nabin Nagar, Guwahati.