Barpeta, Nov. 4 -- Ghanakanta Gogoi, the prime accused in the October 26 mass shooting at Guwahati's Hotel Bilas Inn that claimed five lives, was killed in a police encounter in Assam's Sivasagar district early on Wednesday while allegedly attempting to snatch an officer's pistol and escape custody.

Reacting to the news, Ankita Bharali, daughter of deceased hotel co-owner Bhudev Bharali, expressed relief that justice had been delivered while urging police to expose and punish anyone else who backed or encouraged the crime.

According to officials, the encounter took place around 3:12 AM at Phulpanichiga under Gaurisagar Police Station, nearly 350 km from Guwahati, while a Sivasagar Police team was transporting the 34-year-old accused in ...