Bangla Press Desk: Five people have been killed in a shooting incident at a hotel in Guwahati, the capital of the northeastern Indian state of Assam. The killings are believed to be the result of a long-standing dispute over finances and property. The primary suspect has been arrested, and the pistol used in the incident has been recovered from his possession.
The incident occurred on Monday night (October 26) at the 'Bilas Inn' hotel, located in the Bora Service area near GS Road in Guwahati. Another person was injured in the attack. According to police sources, the main suspect, Ghanakanta Gogoi, has been arrested. Police also recovered a licensed .32-bore pistol from him, which was used in the killings.
Police stated that on Monday night, continuous gunfire was heard coming from the 'Bilas Inn' hotel, situated in an alley in the Bora Service area. Local residents immediately alerted the Guwahati police.
Upon arrival, police discovered the bodies of four individuals inside a room at the hotel. Another person was found lying outside the hotel, having sustained gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) in critical condition, where he was declared dead by doctors.
A hotel employee named Satyendra Pathak was also seriously injured in the incident; he sustained a gunshot wound to his hand and is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The victims have been identified as the hotel's primary owner, Helena Bharali; her son, Eshan Kashyap (also known as Debarshi Kashyap); her brother-in-law, Bhudev Bharali; Narayan Das; and an unidentified individual. Efforts to establish the identity of the latter are underway.
Guwahati Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta stated that preliminary investigations suggest this was neither a militant attack nor a random armed robbery. Instead, the killings appear to stem from a long-standing dispute involving finances and property.
The 'Bilas Inn' hotel was originally owned by the late Dhruba Bharali, a prominent businessman from Barpeta. Following his death, ownership of the hotel passed to his wife, Helena Bharali, and her family. About a year ago, Helena leased the hotel to Ghanakanta Gogoi for its operation. Since then, a dispute had been ongoing between Helena and her family on one side, and Ghanakanta on the other, concerning the lease agreement, outstanding payments, and control of the hotel.
The conflict reached a breaking point on Monday night during a meeting intended to resolve these issues. In a fit of rage, Ghanakanta Gogoi pulled out a .32-bore pistol. According to preliminary investigations, he then opened fire indiscriminately at close range, targeting the hotel owners and staff.
After the incident, Ghanakanta fled the scene and attempted to hide in the nearby Paltan Bazar area. However, multiple teams from the Guwahati Police launched a swift operation and apprehended him there.
Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta stated that the firearm used in the incident has been recovered, and the primary suspect, Ghanakanta Gogoi, has been taken into custody. The bodies of the victims have been sent to Guwahati Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examinations. Forensic and ballistic analyses are currently underway to uncover the full details of the incident.
BP/SP
