Guwahati, 04 November (HS): Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General GP Singh on Wednesday referred to Newton’s Third Law of Motion in a social media post following the death of Ghanakanta Gogoi, the prime accused in the Hotel Bilas Inn shooting case, in police firing in Assam’s Sivasagar district.

Singh, a former Assam Director General of Police (DGP), wrote on social media platform X, “The relevance of Newton’s Third Law in Assam has not diminished. Keep it going.” He also reposted his earlier tweet dated December 1, 2021, which stated, “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction – Newton’s Third Law.”

The 2021 post was made following the death of Neeraj Das alias Kola Lora, the prime accused in the mob lynching of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) leader Animesh Bhuyan in Jorhat.

On November 29, 2021, Bhuyan, the local education secretary of AASU, was allegedly attacked by a mob when he stopped to help an elderly man who had fallen from his scooter. A journalist and another AASU member accompanying him were also assaulted after the attackers allegedly suspected that their vehicle had caused the accident. Bhuyan later succumbed to his injuries.

Neeraj Das, who was arrested in connection with the case, died on December 1, 2021. According to police, he allegedly attempted to escape by jumping from a police vehicle during an operation related to the recovery of narcotics and was subsequently run over by an escort vehicle.

Singh’s decision to repost the old message following Gogoi’s death has drawn attention to the similarities between the two incidents, in which accused persons died during police operations.

According to police, 34-year-old Ghanakanta Gogoi was being taken to Sivasagar in connection with a bank fraud case when the incident occurred near Gaurisagar. He allegedly attempted to snatch the service pistol of the investigating officer, triggering a scuffle with police personnel.

Sivasagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Papori Chetia said a gunshot was fired during the altercation, leaving Gogoi critically injured. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead. A police officer was also injured after sustaining a bullet wound to his leg.

Gogoi had been arrested on October 26 in connection with the shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati’s Bora Service area. Five people, including four members of the Bharali family who owned the hotel, were killed in the incident. Another injured person is undergoing treatment at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash