Before Guwahati hotel killings, accused had convened meeting to discuss lease

In the wake of the Guwahati hotel killings, which claimed five lives and left one injured, Assam Police have set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a thorough and prompt inquiry into the incident. The violence erupted at Hotel Bilas Inn around 9 pm on Monday, following reports of multiple gunshots being fired. Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was rooted in a property-related dispute between the hotel owners and the leaseholder.

Ghanakanta Gogoi, a 34-year-old accused from Dibrugarh, was apprehended within an hour of the incident. He is currently under interrogation.

The hotel owners had entered into a five-year lease agreement with Gogoi on September 10, 2025, at a monthly rent of around Rs 1.8 lakh. Post-renovation, disagreements arose over the usage of the premises and provision of certain facilities. According to senior police officials, a meeting was scheduled at the hotel on October 26 to resolve these issues. However, prior to the meeting's formal commencement, an altercation escalated into a physical fight, leading to the accused opening fire on six individuals.

Four victims, all belonging to the same family of the hotel owners, succumbed to their injuries: Bhudev Bharali, his sister Helena, her son Debarshi Kashyap, and daughter-in-law Rinika Kashyap. Family staff member Narayan Das was also injured and later succumbed to his wounds at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. The deceased have been identified as Bhudev Bharali, Helena, Debarshi Kashyap, Rinika Kashyap, and Narayan Das. Satyendra Pathak, a driver for the Bharali family, sustained injuries during the shooting.

Bhudev Bharali, Narayan Das, and Pathak had arrived from Barpeta earlier on Monday, while the other victims were locals of Guwahati. Dilip Bharali, Bhudev's elder brother, revealed that Gogoi had convened a meeting with the family to discuss pending dues and the lease renewal. Gogoi had taken the hotel on lease over a year ago, but payments were overdue for several months, and the lease agreement was due for renewal.

Gogoi allegedly planned the attack, firing every shot, according to Bhudev Bharali. Family members of the deceased received the bodies post-mortem at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, with all five bodies being taken to Barpeta for last rites on Monday evening. Empty cartridge cases and live cartridges of .32 caliber were recovered by the SIT, which will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident, including forensic evidence examination, witness statements, circumstances leading to the firing, and other relevant aspects. Joint Police Commissioner Ankur Jain will lead a six-member SIT to probe the case.