A video of the shooting at a Guwahati hotel has emerged, showing a man firing at another person at point-blank range, as Assam Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the killing of five people and the injury of another, ANI reported. The incident took place at Hotel Bilas Inn in the Lachit Nagar area on Monday night, October 26.
The video shows a man falling after being shot in the back of the shoulder. He has been identified as Satyendra Pathak, 43, who survived the attack and is undergoing treatment at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Police said the shooting allegedly followed a dispute between the hotel owners and the person who had taken the property on lease. The accused, Ghanakanta Gogoi, 34, was arrested within an hour of the incident, and the pistol allegedly used in the attack was seized.
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The SIT will be headed by Ankur Jain, Joint Commissioner of Police, Guwahati. Its members include Shambhavi Mishra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central); Dr Debajit Nath, APS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime); Viku Achumi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central); Inspector Kuleshjyoti Bhuyan, Officer-in-Charge of Paltan Bazar Police Station; and Sub-Inspector Abinash Das of the same police station.
Guwahati Hotel Shooting: What Happened?
Paltan Bazar Police Station received information about multiple gunshots at around 9 pm on October 26. Police teams reached the hotel and found four people dead inside the reception area, while two others were injured on the approach road.
The injured were rushed to GMCH, where one of them later succumbed to their injuries. Pathak remains under treatment at the hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Helena Bharali, 58, the hotel owner; her son, Debarshi Kashyap, 39; his wife, Rinika Kashyap, 30; Helena's brother, Bhudev Bharali, 65; and Narayan Das, 48, a relative of the family.
Police said four of the five deceased belonged to the same family, while the fifth was from their village.
Lease Dispute Allegedly Led To Firing
According to preliminary findings, the incident stemmed from a dispute over the lease and management of Hotel Bilas Inn.
Police said the hotel owners had entered into a five-year lease agreement with Gogoi on September 10, 2025, at a monthly rent of approximately Rs 1.8 lakh. Following renovations carried out by the accused, disagreements reportedly arose over the use of the premises and the provision of certain facilities.
A meeting had been scheduled at the hotel on October 26 to resolve the issues. However, police said an argument escalated into a physical altercation before the meeting could formally begin, following which the accused allegedly opened fire on six people.
In a statement detailing the preliminary findings, police said, "Following renovation of the property by the accused, disagreements reportedly arose regarding the use of the premises and provision of certain facilities. A meeting was scheduled at the hotel on 26 October 2026 to resolve these issues. However, even before the meeting could formally commence, an argument escalated into a physical altercation, following which the accused opened fire on six persons."
Police said the investigation was ongoing and that the circumstances leading to the confrontation were being examined.
Accused Arrested, Pistol Seized
Police identified Gogoi as the person who had taken the hotel on lease. He was traced to the Basistha Police Station area and taken into custody. The pistol allegedly used in the offence has been seized, and the accused is being interrogated.
The Guwahati Police Commissioner said the investigation would include scientific examination of the evidence to establish the sequence of events.
Forensic Teams Examine Crime Scene
Teams from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examined the scene and collected evidence. Police said several spent cartridge cases and live cartridges of .32 calibre were recovered.
The SIT will examine forensic evidence, record witness statements and investigate the circumstances preceding the shooting.
In a statement, police said: "The SIT will undertake a comprehensive investigation into the incident, including examination of forensic evidence, statements of witnesses, the circumstances leading to the firing and all other relevant aspects of the case."
Congress Raises Law And Order Concerns
Assam Congress president and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi expressed grief over the deaths and raised concerns about public safety in Guwahati.
In a post on X, Gogoi wrote, "This incident raises serious concerns about public safety and the law and order situation in Guwahati. As Chief Minister and Home Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma must take responsibility and pay more attention to rising crime."
The investigation is underway, with police examining the suspected lease dispute, forensic evidence and witness statements to establish the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting.