SIT Formed to Probe Guwahati Hotel Bilas Inn Firing; Five Killed, One Injured
Five people were killed and one person injured in a firing incident at Hotel Bilas Inn in Lachit Nagar, Guwahati, on Monday night. Following the incident, police took accused Ghanakanta Gogoi into custody and seized the pistol allegedly used in the shooting. Guwahati Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case.
According to a press release issued by the Guwahati Police Commissionerate, a team from Paltan Bazar Police Station reached the hotel after receiving information about the firing at around 9 pm on October 26, 2026. Four people were found dead in the hotel’s reception area, while two others were found injured on the approach road to the hotel. Both injured persons were rushed to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where one of them later succumbed to his injuries.
The deceased have been identified as Bhudev Bharali (65), a resident of Barpeta; Helena Bharali (58), Devorshi Kashyap (39) and Rinika Kashyap (30), residents of Nabinnagar in Guwahati; and Narayan Das (48), a resident of Barpeta. The injured person, Satyendra Pathak (43), also from Barpeta, is currently undergoing treatment at GMCH.
According to the preliminary investigation, the firing allegedly took place following a dispute over the hotel’s lease agreement and management.
As stated in the police press release, the hotel owners had entered into a five-year lease agreement with Ghanakanta Gogoi on September 10, 2025. The monthly rent was fixed at Rs 1.8 lakh.
After Gogoi completed renovation and refurbishment work at the hotel, disagreements reportedly arose between the two parties over the use of the hotel premises and certain facilities.
A meeting was arranged at the hotel on October 26, 2026, to resolve the dispute. However, an argument reportedly broke out between the parties before the meeting could formally begin, escalating into a physical altercation. According to the preliminary police findings, the accused subsequently opened fire on six people.
Following the incident, police received information about Gogoi’s presence within the jurisdiction of Basistha Police Station and took him into custody. The pistol allegedly used in the shooting was also seized.
The crime scene was secured and examined scientifically with the assistance of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Several spent cartridge cases and live cartridges of a .32-calibre pistol were recovered and seized from the scene.
Investigating officers are currently questioning the accused as part of the ongoing investigation.
Considering the seriousness of the incident, Guwahati Police has constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure a thorough, scientific and time-bound investigation.
The team is headed by Ankur Jain, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, Guwahati. The other members are:
Shambhavi Mishra, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central).
Dr Debajit Nath, APS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime).
Bhiku Achumi, IPS, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central).
Kuleshjyoti Bhuyan, Officer-in-Charge, Paltan Bazar Police Station.
Abinash Das, Sub-Inspector, Paltan Bazar Police Station.
The SIT will examine forensic evidence, record statements from eyewitnesses and other witnesses, investigate the circumstances leading up to the firing, and look into all other relevant aspects of the case.
The investigation is ongoing to establish the complete sequence of events and uncover all circumstances surrounding the incident, the Guwahati Police Commissionerate stated.
