Guwahati, October 27, 2026: Five people, including four members of the same family, were killed and another person was injured in a shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati, with police suspecting that a dispute over the hotel’s lease agreement triggered the attack.
The firing took place at around 9 pm on October 26 in the Bora Service area along GS Road. Police arrested the alleged shooter, identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi, within an hour of the incident and seized the firearm suspected to have been used.
Six People Suffer Gunshot Injuries
Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta said six people sustained gunshot injuries during the incident.
Five later died, while the sixth victim was admitted to hospital for treatment.
Four Victims Were From Same Family
Police said four of the five people killed belonged to the family associated with the ownership of Hotel Bilas Inn.
The fifth person who died was from the same village as the owners, according to preliminary information released by investigators.
One Person Remains Under Treatment
The surviving injured person was taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.
The Times of India identified him as Satyen Pathak, 42, and reported that he suffered a bullet injury to the shoulder.
Shooting Took Place at Hotel Bilas Inn
The incident occurred at Hotel Bilas Inn, located in Guwahati’s busy Bora Service area near GS Road.
The location is in a heavily travelled part of the city and is only a short distance from the Assam Police headquarters.
Accused Arrested Within an Hour
Police launched an immediate operation after receiving information about the firing.
The alleged shooter, Ghanakanta Gogoi, was apprehended within approximately an hour, according to the Guwahati Police Commissioner.
Licensed .32-Bore Pistol Seized
Investigators recovered a licensed .32-bore pistol from the accused.
Police suspect that the weapon was used in the shooting, though forensic examination is being conducted to establish that conclusively.
Property Lease Dispute Suspected
Police say the preliminary investigation points to a dispute involving the lease of Hotel Bilas Inn.
Gogoi had reportedly taken the hotel on lease from the owners in 2025, and disagreements relating to that arrangement are currently being examined as the possible motive.
Police Stress Probe Is Still Preliminary
Authorities have cautioned that the suspected lease dispute is only the initial line of investigation.
Police have not yet announced a final motive and say all aspects of the case are being investigated.
Victims Were Gathered Near Reception
According to reports citing police, the victims were together near the hotel’s reception area when the firing occurred.
Investigators are now reconstructing the sequence of events immediately preceding the shooting.
Scientific Investigation Underway
The police commissioner said a scientific investigation had begun.
Forensic teams are examining the crime scene, firearm, cartridges and other physical evidence to establish the precise sequence of events.
CCTV Footage Likely to Be Examined
Investigators are expected to examine CCTV footage from the hotel and nearby properties as part of the probe.
Such footage could help determine the movements of the accused and victims before and during the shooting.
Police Questioning Accused
Gogoi is being questioned about the alleged dispute, the firearm and the circumstances that led to the shooting.
Any statements made during interrogation will have to be corroborated with physical and documentary evidence.
Lease Agreement Under Scrutiny
The hotel’s lease agreement is expected to become an important piece of evidence.
Police will likely examine the duration of the lease, financial arrangements, previous disputes and communications between the owner’s family and the lessee.
No Final Finding on Motive Yet
Although police currently suspect a property-related dispute, authorities have not established a final motive.
The investigation remains open, and the accused is entitled to due process under law.
Earlier Reports Initially Put Toll at Four
Early reports on the night of October 26 initially said four people had died and two were critically injured.
The toll later rose to five after one of the injured victims succumbed, while another remained under treatment.
Police Have Not Released Full Victim List
Authorities had not initially released the complete identities of all five deceased.
Police said the families were being informed and post-mortem procedures were underway.
Post-Mortem Examinations Ordered
The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination.
The reports will help investigators determine the number and trajectory of gunshot wounds and could assist in reconstructing the attack.
Hotel Owner’s Side Suffered Most Casualties
Police have said all five deceased were associated with the hotel owner’s side.
Four were members of the same family, while the fifth was linked to their village.
Case Shocks Guwahati
The shooting has caused alarm in Guwahati because of the number of casualties and the fact that it occurred in a prominent commercial area.
Police presence around the hotel was increased as forensic teams continued their examination.
Weapon Ownership Will Be Examined
Because the recovered pistol was reportedly licensed, investigators are also likely to examine its registration, ownership records and licensing conditions.
A licensed firearm can still become evidence in a criminal case if it is allegedly used unlawfully.
Investigators Reconstruct Events
Police are expected to compare eyewitness accounts, CCTV recordings, forensic evidence, mobile-phone records and statements from the accused.
The goal is to establish what happened in the period immediately before the shooting and whether the incident was planned or followed a sudden confrontation.
Earlier Fraud Case Reported Against Accused
Separate reporting on October 27 said police records show Gogoi had faced an earlier fraud case registered in Assam’s Jorhat district in 2024.
That earlier case is separate from the present shooting investigation, and it does not establish guilt in the current matter.
Police Expected to Seek Custody
Investigators are expected to place the accused before a court and seek custody for further questioning.
The court will determine the terms of remand and subsequent legal proceedings.
Investigation Remains Active
The case is still at an early stage.
Police are continuing to examine the suspected property dispute, firearm evidence and communications between the parties while recording statements from witnesses.
Five Deaths Turn Lease Dispute Into Major Criminal Case
What police currently believe began as a dispute over a hotel lease has resulted in one of Guwahati’s most serious recent shooting cases.
With five people dead, one injured and the alleged shooter already in custody, the next phase of the investigation will focus on establishing the motive, chronology and criminal responsibility through forensic and documentary evidence.
Source: Guwahati Police, The Indian Express, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Assam Tribune
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