Five people were killed and one person was injured in a shooting at Bilas Inn Hotel in Guwahati, Assam, on the night of October 26. Four of the deceased belonged to the same family. The incident occurred at around 9 pm in the busy Bora Service area of the city. The injured person was admitted to hospital for treatment.
Preliminary police investigations have pointed to a dispute over the hotel's lease agreement. Ghanakanta Gogoi, who had taken the hotel on lease, is accused of opening fire on people associated with the ownership side. Police arrested him within approximately an hour of the incident and seized a licensed .32-bore pistol from his possession.
According to Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta, a property-related dispute is being considered a primary factor behind the shooting in the preliminary investigation. Gogoi had taken the hotel on lease, and disagreements over the agreement had reportedly persisted between him and the hotel's ownership side for some time.
A fresh confrontation between the two sides reportedly took place on Monday night, during which the shooting occurred. Police are investigating what triggered the altercation and the circumstances under which the accused allegedly used the firearm.
The investigation remains at an early stage. Police are examining documents related to the hotel's operations and lease agreement to establish the circumstances behind the dispute.
Four of the five people killed in the shooting belonged to the same family. Available reports have named Helena Bharali, her son Debarshi Kashyap and Narayan Das among the deceased. Other reports have identified the remaining family members as Bhudev Bharali and Riniki Kashyap.
Initial news reports have differed on the names of the deceased and their family relationships. Official police confirmation will therefore be important to establish the final identities of all the victims.
According to the police commissioner, the fifth person killed and the injured individual were also associated with the village of the affected family. The deaths of several members of the same family in a single incident have added to the gravity of the case.
The injured person has been identified as Satyen Pathak, who was admitted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
Senior hospital physician Dr. Babul Kumar Bezbaruah said Pathak was approximately 42 years old. The bullet reportedly entered one part of his body and exited through the other side. He remains under medical supervision, and available information indicates that his condition is stable.
The hospital administration has also confirmed the death of Narayan Das, who was reported to be approximately 48 years old. Police and medical teams are gathering information about those affected by the incident.
Police launched an investigation after receiving information about the shooting and apprehended the main accused, Ghanakanta Gogoi, within approximately an hour. The licensed pistol recovered from him has been seized for examination.
Investigators are examining the circumstances in which the firearm was used. Gogoi is being questioned, while evidence collected from the scene is also being analysed.
Police officials have said that scientific investigative methods will be used to establish the sequence of events. No clear official information has emerged so far regarding the possible involvement of any other person.
A key focus of the investigation is the dispute over the hotel's lease agreement. Police are seeking to establish when the disagreement between the ownership side and the accused began and what transpired on Monday night before the confrontation escalated into a shooting.
Investigators are also examining who was present at the hotel when the incident occurred and the complete sequence of events leading to the firing.
Police have said that further information will be shared after the investigation progresses.
