Guwahati Hotel Firing: Five Shot Dead, Suspect Nabbed

Five persons, including a mother-son duo, were killed and another was injured in a horrific firing incident at a hotel in Guwahati on Monday evening, after which police apprehended the primary suspect within an hour.

What Happened in Guwahati?

On Monday evening around 9:00 PM, a violent confrontation erupted near Hotel Bilas Inn, located in the prominent Bora Service area along GS Road in Guwahati, Assam. The quiet commercial corridor turned into a chaotic crime scene as multiple gunshots rang out inside and adjacent to the property. Witnesses reported hearing around seven rounds of gunfire fired in quick succession, triggering panic among passersby and local business staff. Emergency services and local law enforcement were alerted immediately after the gunfire ceased.

Who Were the Victims and Suspects Involved?

The shootout resulted in the immediate deaths of four individuals at the scene, while two others were rushed in critical condition to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). One of the wounded victims later succumbed during emergency medical treatment, bringing the total fatalities to five, while one survivor remains under medical care.

The deceased include the hotel owner, Helena Bharali, and her son, Debarshi Kashyap. Four of the victims belonged directly to the property owner’s family, while the fifth deceased victim and the injured survivor were individuals associated with their home village.

The primary suspect apprehended by the police has been identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi, who served as the business leaseholder of the hotel property.

Where and When Did the Incident Take Place?

The tragic event took place on the night of Monday, October 26, inside the premises of Hotel Bilas Inn. The establishment is situated in a lane off the main GS Road in the Bora Service locality, a busy commercial neighborhood in central Guwahati.

Why Did the Tragic Shootout Occur?

According to initial police disclosures, the violent act was fueled by a long-standing financial and property management disagreement. The dispute involved the hotel’s legal owner and the leaseholder, Ghanakanta Gogoi, over lease agreement terms, commercial possession, and unpaid operational liabilities associated with Hotel Bilas Inn.

A heated verbal argument broke out between the property owner's group and the leaseholder on Monday night. As tempers flared, the suspect pulled out a licensed .32-bore pistol and opened fire on the group.

How Did Law Enforcement Respond?

Following news of the shooting, high-ranking police officers, including Guwahati Commissioner of Police Partha Sarathi Mahanta, rushed to the crime scene to secure the area and oversee the initial operations.

Law enforcement launched a swift search operation across the locality, leading to the apprehension of Ghanakanta Gogoi within an hour of the crime. Police seized the .32-bore licensed handgun used in the shooting alongside expended cartridge casings. Forensic experts and ballistic teams were deployed to collect physical evidence, document entry and exit bullet trajectories, and piece together the timeline.

Authorities confirmed that forensic and scientific investigations are actively underway to ensure all evidentiary links are established. Interrogations of the suspect are being conducted to determine whether any accomplices participated or aided in planning the violent assault.