Assam: Ghanakanta Gogoi’s body reaches Dibrugarh, post mortem to be conducted tomorrow after 10 am

The body of Ghanakanta Gogoi, the prime accused in Guwahati Hotel Bilas Inn shooting, who was killed in a police encounter in Assam’s Sivasagar district in the early hours of Wednesday, November 4, was brought to Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh at around 7.10 pm today. The post-mortem examination is scheduled to be conducted on Thursday after 10 am.

The body will be kept in the hospital’s morgue overnight, as post-mortem examinations are not conducted after dark. Gogoi’s two brothers accompanied the body to the hospital.

The post-mortem examination was initially expected to be conducted at Sivasagar Civil Hospital. However, the authorities decided to shift the procedure to AMCH after it was found that the district hospital lacked the necessary facilities and did not have a forensic specialist to conduct the examination.

A three-member medical board has been constituted at AMCH to carry out the post-mortem examination as part of the formal procedures following Gogoi’s death. Further details and findings of the examination are awaited.

Gogoi, the prime accused in the October 26 shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati’s Ulubari area, was killed in police firing during an alleged escape attempt near Rongmon Dhaba at Phulpanisiga in Sivasagar district around 3.10 am on Wednesday.

The incident took place under Gorisagar Police Station limits when a Sivasagar Police team was bringing him from Guwahati in connection with a case registered at Sivasagar Sadar Police Station.

Sivasagar Senior Superintendent of Police Papari Chetia said the police had obtained a production warrant from a Guwahati court on Tuesday night after learning that Gogoi was an accused in an alleged Punjab National Bank loan fraud case.

According to the SSP, Gogoi had allegedly secured a loan for an excavator by submitting forged documents. The bank later scrutinised the documents and lodged a complaint, following which a case was registered against him. Police said he was wanted in six cases.

Chetia said Gogoi, who was allegedly trained in handling firearms, had told the police team that he would lead them to Gorisagar to recover weapons. During the journey, he allegedly attempted to escape and tried to snatch the service revolver of a police officer.

A scuffle reportedly broke out during which three rounds were fired from the officer’s service revolver. One police personnel sustained serious injuries and was admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

The officer-in-charge of Sivasagar Sadar Police Station, who was also part of the team, subsequently opened fire to overpower Gogoi and prevent his escape. Gogoi sustained bullet injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead, the SSP said.

Chetia further stated that the police vehicle was hit during the exchange of fire. The officer involved in the scuffle also sustained minor injuries.

Gogoi was the prime accused in the October 26 shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati, which left five people, including four members of the same family, dead and another person injured. He was arrested shortly after the incident and was recently sent to judicial custody after police did not seek further remand.