GUWAHATI: Five people were killed and one person was injured in a shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati, Assam, on Monday night, 26 October. Police have arrested the suspected shooter and seized the weapon allegedly used in the incident.
The firing took place at around 9 pm in the Bora Service area, near GS Road. According to police, six people sustained gunshot injuries. Five later died, while the surviving injured person was taken for medical treatment.
Police Suspect Dispute Over Hotel Lease
- Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta said preliminary investigations indicated that the incident may have stemmed from a dispute over the hotel’s lease agreement.
- The suspected accused has been identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi, who had reportedly leased the hotel property. Investigators suspect that the confrontation involved the leaseholder and people associated with the hotel owner.
- Police have stressed that the investigation remains at an early stage and that the circumstances leading to the shooting are being examined.
Four Members of One Family Among the Victims
- According to reports published on 27 October, the deceased were identified as hotel owner Helena Bharali, her brother Bhudev Bharali, her son Devarshi Kashyap, her daughter in law Riniki Kashyap, and their driver Narayan Das.
- Four of the five victims belonged to the hotel owner’s family, according to police. The injured survivor was identified as Satyendra Pathak, a hotel caretaker. Hospital officials reportedly described his condition as stable.
Suspect Arrested, Weapon Seized
- Police Commissioner Mahanta said the accused was apprehended within an hour of the incident. A licensed .32 bore pistol believed to have been used in the shooting was also seized.
- Police are questioning the accused and examining evidence to establish the sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
- The authorities have said that a thorough investigation is underway. The suspected lease dispute remains a preliminary line of inquiry, and further findings are awaited.
Investigation Continues
- The shooting has raised concerns about public safety in Guwahati. Investigators are working to establish the precise circumstances of the incident and determine the events that led to the fatal confrontation.
Business Galaxy will report further developments as verified information becomes available.
Source note: Based on reports published by The Indian Express and Hindustan Times on 27 October 2026, citing statements from Guwahati police. The suspected motive has not been presented as a final judicial finding.
