Man accused of killing 5 in Guwahati hotel shot dead in encounter: Police

Ghanakanta Gogoi was being taken from Guwahati to Sibsagar when he allegedly tried to escape. A person accused of shooting five people dead in a Guwahati hotel last week was killed in an encounter early on Wednesday while allegedly trying to escape police custody, officials said.Ganakanta Gogoi, the main accused in the Guwahati Hotel firing case, being produce before Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, in Guwahati on Tuesday. (ANI)Ghanakanta Gogoi was being taken from Guwahati to Sibsagar, around 350 km away, by a police team in connection with a separate case when the incident took place around 3:12 am, the officials added.On October 26, Gogoi, a Guwahati-based businessman, allegedly shot six people, including the owner of a hotel he had taken on lease. Five of them, including owner Helena Bharali (58), died on the spot.A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read MoreGet Latest News, breaking headlines, and top India News, and today real-time updates from across the nation. Stay informed on politics, government policies, crime, Today Weather, and major developments on Hindustan Times