In Brief
- Five victims died from gunshot wounds, including four members of the hotel co-owner's family and their caretaker, while one person sustained injuries.
- Police apprehended the accused leaseholder, identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi, within an hour of the shooting.
- Investigators recovered a licensed .32-bore pistol used by the leaseholder during the assault.
- The sole survivor, 42-year-old Satyen Pathak, received treatment for a shoulder injury at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Deadly Dispute Encounters at Bora Service
A dispute over a hotel lease agreement escalated into a deadly shooting on Monday night, October 26, 2026, around 9:00 PM at Hotel Bilas Inn, located near Bora Service on GS Road in Guwahati.
The incident took place approximately two kilometers from the Assam Police headquarters. According to Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta, leaseholder Ghanakanta Gogoi opened fire on the property's co-owner and her associates following an argument regarding the lease terms.
Four of the deceased belonged to the same family—including co-owner Helena Bharali, her son Deborshi Kashyap, her daughter-in-law, and her brother—along with their family caretaker.
Police Investigation and Law & Order Reactions
Guwahati Police apprehended Ghanakanta Gogoi shortly after the attack and seized his licensed .32-bore handgun. Forensic teams cordoned off the crime scene to analyze evidence, recover empty cartridges, and reconstruct the exact sequence of events.
"Preliminary investigation suggests that the incident stemmed from a property dispute related to the lease agreement of the hotel. A scientific and thorough probe has been launched to bring the case to a logical conclusion." — Partha Sarathi Mahanta, Guwahati Police Commissioner
The tragedy prompted political reactions across the state. Assam Congress chief and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi expressed condolences to the victims' families, raising concerns about public safety and calling for a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
