Guwahati Horror: 5 Dead in Hotel Firing Over Property Dispute
Five people were killed and one injured in a firing incident at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati. Police have arrested the accused, Ghanakanta Gogoi.
A quiet Monday night in Guwahati turned into a scene of carnage when a firing incident near a hotel in the Ulubari area left five people dead and one critically injured. The tragedy, which unfolded at the Hotel Bilas Inn in the Bora Service area, has sent shockwaves through the city as police reveal a suspected motive rooted in a bitter property disagreement.
The Night of the Attack
The violence erupted around 9 p.m. on Monday. According to Guwahati Commissioner of Police Partha Sarathi Mahanta, six individuals sustained gunshot wounds during the incident. While one survivor is currently fighting for their life in the hospital, five others succumbed to their injuries.
The scale of the tragedy is highlighted by the relationship between the victims. Officials confirmed that four of the deceased belonged to the same family, while the fifth victim and the sole survivor were residents of the same village.
Swift Police Action and Arrest
The Guwahati police acted rapidly, apprehending the suspect within an hour of the shooting. The accused has been identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi. Along with the arrest, law enforcement officials successfully seized the weapon used to carry out the massacre.
Commissioner Mahanta stated that interrogation of Gogoi is currently underway to uncover the full sequence of events leading up to the firing.
A Deadly Dispute Over Lease
While the investigation is still in its preliminary stages, the police have pointed toward a financial and legal conflict as the catalyst for the crime. The dispute reportedly centered on a lease agreement for the Hotel Bilas Inn.
The conflict existed between the owners of the hotel and the individual who had taken the property on lease. Crucially, the police revealed that the accused, Ghanakanta Gogoi, was the person who had leased the hotel.
Medical Details and Casualties
The Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) was alerted to the incident between 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Prof. (Dr) Babul Kumar Bezbaruah, the Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent (in-charge) of GMCH, provided grim details regarding the victims:
- Narayan Das (48): Brought to the hospital dead. He had a direct injury to his lip, and medical examination showed that a bullet had entered his body without an exit wound.
- Satyendra Pathak (42): The sole survivor of the attack. He sustained a "through-and-through" injury with both entry and exit wounds. He is currently stable and receiving care from the Surgery and Orthopaedics departments.
Investigation Ongoing
The police have assured the public that a "scientific and thorough" investigation is being conducted to ensure all circumstances are established and the case reaches a logical conclusion. Further updates are expected as the interrogation of the accused progresses.