GUWAHATI | A dispute over a hotel lease may have culminated in a deadly shooting that claimed five lives in Guwahati on Monday night. Hotel owner Helena Bharali and four others were shot dead inside Hotel Bilas Inn in the Bora Service area along GS Road. The accused, identified as leaseholder Ghanakanta Gogoi, was arrested within an hour of the incident, police said.

According to police, the firing took place at around 9 pm on October 26. The deceased have been identified as hotel owner Helena Bharali, her son Devarshi Kashyap, daughter-in-law Riniki Kashyap, brother Bhudev Bharali, and driver Narayan Das.

Four of the victims belonged to the same family, while the fifth was reportedly from their village. Another person, aged 42, sustained bullet injuries and was admitted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). His condition was reported to be stable.

Lease dispute under investigation

Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta said preliminary findings suggested that the killings could have stemmed from a dispute between the hotel owner’s family and the person who had taken the property on lease. Gogoi had reportedly leased the hotel from its owners last year. A disagreement over the lease agreement had allegedly been continuing for some time.

According to the police commissioner, all five deceased were associated with the owner’s side, and the leaseholder allegedly opened fire. Investigators are questioning the accused to establish the sequence of events and determine what triggered the shooting.

Police have seized a licensed .32-bore pistol in connection with the case. The exact circumstances leading to the shooting, including whether an argument preceded the attack, are being investigated.

Forensic team examines crime scene

A forensic team visited the hotel along with senior police officials to examine the scene and collect evidence. Investigators are analysing the available material as part of the ongoing probe. Police said the investigation was at a preliminary stage and that further details would be shared as more information emerged.

The shooting has sent shockwaves through Guwahati, as the attack took place inside a hotel located along the city’s busy GS Road. Reports indicated that several people were present when the firing occurred.

Congress raises law and order concerns

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi expressed grief over the killings on Tuesday and called for a thorough investigation. He also raised concerns about the law and order situation in Guwahati, holding Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responsible for addressing the alleged rise in crime.

While police suspect a lease-related dispute as the immediate trigger, the precise motive and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.