GUWAHATI: Assam Police on Tuesday constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate a fatal shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in the city’s Bora Service locality that left five people dead and one person injured.
Accused arrested, weapon seized
Police said they arrested Ghanakanta Gogoi, who allegedly opened fire at the hotel on Monday night. Officers recovered a licensed .32 pistol purportedly used in the incident. Gogoi is originally from Dibrugarh in upper Assam and is reported to be residing in the Sawkuchi area of Guwahati.
The SIT will be led by Ankur Jain, Joint Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, and includes two other IPS officers—Shambhavi Mishra and Viku Achumi—among its six members. Authorities said the team was formed to ensure a "thorough, scientific and expeditious" inquiry into the case.
Sequence of events and casualties
According to an Assam Police statement, teams rushed to the hotel after receiving reports of gunshots at about 9 pm on Monday. On arrival, officers found four people dead inside the reception area and two others injured on the approach road. One of the injured later died at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), police said. The lone survivor is receiving treatment at GMCH.
"Upon reaching the spot, four persons were found dead inside the hotel reception area, while two others were found injured on the approach road. The injured were immediately shifted to GMCH, where one of them subsequently succumbed to his injuries," Assam Police said.
Police indicated preliminary inquiries suggest the violence stemmed from a dispute over the lease and management of the hotel. The proprietors of the property had entered a five-year lease with the accused on September 10 last year, reportedly at a monthly rent of around ₹1.8 lakh. The accused is said to have renovated the premises, after which disagreements emerged regarding the premises’ use and provision of certain facilities. A meeting had been scheduled at the hotel on Monday to attempt to resolve these matters.
Victims identified
| Name | Age | Relation / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bhudev Bharali | 65 | Member of the hotel-owning family |
| Helena Bharali | 58 | Member of the hotel-owning family |
| Debarshi Kashyap | 39 | Member of the hotel-owning family |
| Rinika Kashyap | 30 | Member of the hotel-owning family |
| Narayan Das | 48 | Not part of the listed family |
The injured patient, Satyendra Pathak (43), is under treatment at GMCH. Police have not disclosed the current medical condition beyond confirming treatment and that one injured person succumbed at the hospital.
Investigative focus and next steps
Investigators will probe the circumstances that led to the dispute over the hotel lease and what triggered the shooting at the meeting. The SIT’s remit, as announced by authorities, emphasises a scientific and expeditious approach. Police teams are examining documentary evidence related to the lease, renovation work, and communication between the parties, while also collecting forensic material from the scene.
Local residents and hoteliers in the Bora Service area said the incident has heightened concerns about safety and conflict resolution mechanisms in commercial lease arrangements. The police have not released further details about motive or whether Gogoi had prior complaints or criminal history.
Practical information for the public
- Police have cordoned off areas related to the probe; commuters should expect intermittent checks in Bora Service and Sawkuchi.
- Anyone with information about the lease dispute, the accused’s movements, or CCTV footage from nearby establishments is asked to contact the Guwahati City Police control room.
- Relatives of the deceased are being assisted by local authorities for post-mortem and legal formalities.
The formation of the SIT signals the administration’s intention to handle the matter at a higher investigative level. Further updates, including any charge-sheet or forensic findings, are awaited as the SIT continues its inquiry.
