Guwahati Horror: 5 Dead in Hotel Shooting Over Lease Dispute
A bloody dispute over a hotel lease in Guwahati ends in five deaths. Police arrested the accused within an hour. Read the full details here.
A violent clash over a property lease turned into a bloodbath in Guwahati on Monday night, leaving five people dead and one critically injured. The shooting, which took place near the Bilas Inn in the Bora Service area, has sent shockwaves through the city as a business disagreement escalated into a mass killing.
The Night of the Massacre
The tragedy unfolded around 9:00 p.m. in a lane adjacent to Hotel Bilas Inn. According to official reports, a heated altercation broke out between the hotel owners and the lessee, which quickly turned lethal when a firearm was produced. Six people were shot during the chaos.
Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta confirmed the grim toll, stating that five of the victims died due to their injuries. The sixth person survived the attack and is currently fighting for their life at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Victims Identified
The violence tore through a single family, with the Commissioner revealing that four of the five deceased belonged to the same household. Among those killed were:
- Helena Bharali, the owner of the hotel.
- Debarshi Kashyap, the son of Helena Bharali.
- Narayan Das.
Authorities further noted that the fifth victim and the sole survivor were residents of the same village as the deceased family.
Swift Police Action and Arrest
The Assam Police launched a rapid manhunt immediately following the incident. In a swift operation, the police apprehended the prime suspect, identified as Ghankanta Gogoi, within just one hour of the crime.
Gogoi, who had leased the hotel from the victims, was found in possession of the murder weapon. Police have since recovered a licensed .32 bore pistol, which was used to carry out the shooting.
The Root of the Conflict
While the arrests have been made, the investigation is still unfolding. Preliminary findings suggest that the motive behind the carnage was a dispute regarding the hotel's lease agreement. Police are now working to uncover the specific details of the conflict that led Gogoi to open fire on the owners and their associates.