The incident occurred at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati’s Bora Service area. A dispute between the hotel owner and the person who had taken it on lease led to the shooting
Five people were killed and one was critically injured after a man opened fire in a hotel in Guwahati on Monday.
The incident occurred at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati’s Bora Service area. A dispute between the hotel owner and the person who had taken it on lease led to the shooting, police said, adding that the leaseholder perpetrated the attack.
The victims have been identified as Helena Bharali, the owner of the hotel; her son Devarshi Kashyap; Devarshi’s wife Riniki Kashyap; Narayan Das, a relative of the family; and Bhudev Bharali, Helena’s brother.
Satyendra Pathak, who is related to the family, sustained gunshot injuries and is undergoing treatment at Guwahati Medical College, where he is said to be responding to treatment.
One person has been arrested in connection with the incident. The accused has been identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi, the person who had taken the hotel on lease.
“Six persons sustained gunshot wounds, of whom five succumbed to the injuries. One person is undergoing treatment. The weapon used in the incident, a .32-bore licensed pistol, has been seized. Interrogation is underway, and preliminary investigation suggests that the incident stemmed from a property dispute related to the lease agreement of the hotel,” Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta told reporters.
“All the victims are associated with the owner of the hotel. The leaseholder himself fired and killed them,” he added.
Further details about the sequence of events are awaited as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi said the incident raises serious concerns about the law and order situation in Guwahati.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic firing incident at Ulubari Hotel Bilas Inn, Guwahati, in which five people have reportedly lost their lives. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” the Jorhat MP said in a social media post.
