GUWAHATI | Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi has questioned the state’s law and order situation following a shooting at Bilas Inn hotel in Guwahati’s Ulubari area that left five people dead. Expressing condolences to the victims’ families on social media on Tuesday, Gogoi called for accountability from Chief Minister and Home Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and urged the government to take more effective steps to curb crime in the city.

In his post, Gogoi said the incident had raised serious concerns about public safety and the law and order situation in Guwahati. He stressed that the Chief Minister must take responsibility for the growing incidence of crime and give greater attention to ensuring the safety of citizens. The Congress leader also called for those responsible to be brought to justice and for effective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The shooting took place at Bilas Inn hotel on Monday at around 9 pm. Five people were killed and another person sustained injuries. Police have arrested the accused, identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi, in connection with the incident.

Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta said preliminary investigations indicated that a property dispute linked to the hotel’s lease agreement could have triggered the shooting. However, investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances leading to the incident and establish the exact sequence of events. The final findings of the investigation are awaited.

Meanwhile, the injured were taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Babul Kumar Bezbaruah, the hospital’s officiating principal and chief superintendent, said the hospital authorities were informed about the incident between 9 pm and 9.30 pm on Monday. One person was brought to the hospital dead, he said.

The deceased was identified as Narayan Das, aged around 48. According to the hospital’s preliminary observations, he had an injury mark on his lip. Bezbaruah said there appeared to be an entry wound from a bullet, but no corresponding exit wound was visible.

A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory also visited the hotel following the shooting. Investigators are examining the scene, the weapon allegedly used and other evidence to reconstruct the incident and establish the sequence of events.

While police are pursuing the property dispute angle as a possible motive, the deaths have triggered a political debate over public safety and crime prevention in Guwahati. The Congress has demanded accountability from the state government, even as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The focus now remains on the progress of the police investigation, the evidence gathered from the crime scene and the steps the state government takes to address concerns over law and order in the city.