Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President and Member of Parliament Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday visited the Barpeta residence of the Bharali family, who were killed in the recent Hotel Bilas Inn shootout in Guwahati, and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family members.
Meeting the relatives of the victims, Gogoi described the incident as deeply tragic and said the loss suffered by the family was irreparable.
“I met the family members and relatives of the Bharali family at their residence in Barpeta and conveyed my heartfelt condolences. The brutal shootout at Hotel Bilas Inn has shocked all of us. No words can lessen the pain of losing loved ones. In this difficult hour, I stand with the bereaved family and pray for the eternal peace of the departed souls,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, Gogoi raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the case and asserted that the investigation should not end with the police encounter of the prime accused, Ghanakanta Gogoi.
According to the Congress leader, it would be premature to conclude that the accused acted alone. He alleged that the shooter could have been part of a larger land and property mafia network operating behind the scenes.
“It cannot be said with certainty that the person who was encountered was the sole person responsible. There may be a larger land or property mafia syndicate involved in the crime. The shooter may not have been the mastermind,” Gogoi stated.
Referring to discussions with the victims’ family members, he said several important aspects of the case remained unanswered and required a thorough and impartial investigation. He further alleged that influential individuals or groups could have been backing the accused and called for all such links to be investigated.
“The entire case must not be closed simply because an encounter has taken place. Every aspect of the conspiracy must be uncovered,” he asserted.
Gogoi also expressed concern over the law and order situation in the state, remarking that both encounters and criminal incidents appeared to be increasing.
Describing Ghanakanta Gogoi as merely “the face” of a larger criminal network, he alleged that the accused may have worked as a hired shooter on behalf of land and property mafias.
The APCC president further claimed that organized land mafias often target families owning properties in commercially valuable locations, particularly in and around Guwahati. He alleged that there have been numerous complaints in the past involving attempts to seize land through intimidation, coercion, or fabricated legal disputes.
Questioning whether the masterminds behind such alleged networks had been identified, Gogoi said, “Who are the real operators? Who is the actual kingpin behind this property and land mafia? We want the real culprits to be arrested.”
He maintained that only by exposing and dismantling the entire criminal network and bringing all those involved to justice could similar incidents be prevented in the future and innocent families protected.
