India, Nov. 4 -- A man accused of shooting five people dead near a Guwahati hotel last week was killed in an encounter early on Wednesday while allegedly trying to escape police custody, officials said.

Ghanakanta Gogoi, who carried out the murders reportedly over a dispute involving the lease of the hotel, was being taken from Guwahati to Sibsagar - around 350 km away - in connection with a separate case when the incident took place around 3:12 am, the officials added.

"When the team reached Gaurisagar, he said he wanted to answer nature's call. After he got down from the vehicle, he tried to snatch the service weapon of the investigating officer. A scuffle ensued," Sibsagar senior superintendent of police Papori Chetia said.

"At this...