Guwahati Hotel Bloodbath: SIT Formed After Lease Dispute Turns Deadly
A Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe a deadly shooting at a Guwahati hotel that left five people dead over a lease dispute.
A chilling scene unfolded at a hotel in the Lachit Nagar area of Guwahati on Monday night, where a dispute over property management escalated into a massacre. The authorities have now constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Guwahati hotel shooting incident that claimed five lives and left one person fighting for survival.
The Night of Terror
The horror began around 9 pm on October 26, when the Paltan Bazar Police Station received frantic reports of multiple gunshots echoing from a local establishment. Upon arriving at the scene, police discovered a gruesome sight: four individuals lay dead within the hotel's reception area, while two others were found bleeding on the approach road.
The injured were rushed to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). While one victim fought for their life, another tragically succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, bringing the total death toll to five.
The Victims Identified
The tragedy has left families devastated across the region. The deceased have been identified as:
- Bhudev Bharali (65), a resident of Barpeta.
- Narayan Das (48), also from Barpeta.
- Helena Bharali (58), from Nabin Nagar, Guwahati.
- Debarshi Kashyap (39), from Nabin Nagar, Guwahati.
- Rinika Kashyap (30), from Nabin Nagar, Guwahati.
The sole survivor, 43-year-old Satyendra Pathak from Barpeta, remains under medical care at GMCH.
A Deadly Dispute: The Motive
Preliminary investigations suggest that the motive behind this carnage was not random, but rooted in a business conflict regarding the lease and management of Hotel Bilas Inn.
According to police, the hotel owners had signed a five-year lease agreement with the accused on September 10, 2025, with a monthly rent set at approximately Rs 1.8 lakh. However, after the accused spent resources renovating the property, tensions flared over the specific use of the premises and the provision of certain facilities.
In an attempt to settle these grievances, a meeting was scheduled for the night of October 26. Instead of a resolution, a heated argument broke out, spiraling into a physical brawl before the formal meeting could even start. In a fit of rage, the accused allegedly drew a weapon and opened fire on six people.
The Manhunt and Arrest
Police quickly identified the suspect as 34-year-old Ghanakanta Gogoi. Originally from Dibrugarh and residing in the Sawkuchi area of Guwahati, Gogoi was tracked down to the Basistha Police Station area and taken into custody. The .32 calibre pistol allegedly used in the killings has been seized by the police.
High-Level Investigation Launched
Given the gravity of the crime, the police have assembled a high-powered SIT to ensure a watertight case. The team is led by Ankur Jain, Joint Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, and includes:
- Shambhavi Mishra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central)
- Dr Debajit Nath, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime)
- Viku Achumi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central)
- Inspector Kuleshjyoti Bhuyan (OC, Paltan Bazar Police Station)
- Sub-Inspector Abinash Das (Paltan Bazar Police Station)
The crime scene has been meticulously processed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Investigators recovered several empty .32 calibre cartridge cases and live rounds from the site. The accused is currently undergoing intense interrogation to uncover any further details surrounding the massacre.