Guwahati Murder Case: 5 Shot Dead in Hotel Lease Dispute, Assailant Arrested
Guwahati Murder Case: Five Shot Dead in Hotel Lease Dispute, Assailant Arrested with Murder Weapon
In a shocking Guwahati murder case that has left the city reeling, five people were shot dead and one critically injured at Hotel Bilas Inn on GS Road late Monday night. The brutal attack stemmed from a bitter dispute over the hotel’s lease agreement.
According to Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta, the incident occurred around 9–10 pm in the Bora Service area near a Kalyan Jewellers outlet. Six persons sustained gunshot wounds; five succumbed to their injuries while one remains under treatment.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Helena Bharali, the hotel owner
- Her son Devarshi Kashyap
- Devarshi’s wife Riniki Kashyap
- Narayan Das, 48, a relative of the family (shot in the face and declared dead on arrival at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital)
- Bhudev Bharali, Helena’s brother
The sole survivor, Satyendra Pathak, 42, suffered a bullet wound to his right shoulder and is in stable condition.
Police said the accused, Ghanakanta Gogoi, had taken the hotel on lease about a year ago. He opened fire during a confrontation related to the lease agreement and was arrested shortly afterwards with the .32-bore licensed pistol used in the crime. The weapon has been seized and interrogation is underway.
“Preliminary investigation suggests the killings are a fallout of a dispute related to the lease agreement of the hotel. All the victims are associated with the owner of the hotel. The leaseholder himself fired and killed them,” Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta told reporters.
Four bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. The investigation continues as police piece together the exact sequence of events.
The tragic Guwahati murder case has also drawn political reactions. State Congress president and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi expressed deep sadness and offered condolences to the bereaved families, while raising concerns about the law and order situation in Guwahati.
Further updates are awaited as the probe progresses.
