Indiscriminate shooting in Assam hotel, 5 killed

Five people have been killed in indiscriminate shooting at a hotel in Guwahati, the capital of Assam in India. One more person has been seriously injured in this incident. This incident took place on Monday night at ‘Bilas Inn’ hotel in Bora Service area adjacent to GS Road of the city. Police have arrested the main accused of the murder Ghanakanta Gogoi. The licensed pistol used in the murder has been recovered from him.

Police sources have informed that after hearing successive sounds of gunshots from the hotel on Monday night, local residents informed the police. Later police went to the spot and recovered the bodies of four people from a room of the hotel. One more person was found in a bullet-hit condition outside the hotel. When he was taken to Guwahati Medical College Hospital, the doctor declared him dead.

In this incident hotel worker Satyendra Pathak has been seriously injured after being hit by a bullet. The bullet has hit his hand. He is under treatment at the hospital.

The deceased are the owner of the hotel Helena Bharali, her son Eshan Kashyap alias Debarshi Kashyap, his grandfather Bhudeb Bharali, Narayan Das and an unidentified person. Attempts are being made to identify that person.

Guwahati Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta has informed that in the preliminary investigation the incident does not seem to be a terrorist attack or sudden armed robbery. Rather police is assuming that this murder has taken place as a result of long-standing financial and property-related dispute.

Police sources have informed that the main owner of the hotel was late Dhruba Bharali, a businessman of Barpeta. After his death the ownership of the hotel was obtained by wife Helena Bharali and family members. About one year ago Ghanakanta Gogoi was given the lease for operating the hotel. After that dispute was ongoing between the two sides over the lease agreement, outstanding money and control of the hotel.

On Monday night during discussion or compromise related to this the quarrel reached the peak. At one stage Ghanakanta Gogoi took out a pistol and fired targeting the owner side and employees of the hotel, it has been known in the preliminary investigation.

Police has informed that after firing the accused fled from the spot and tried to hide in Paltanbazar area. Later multiple teams of police conducted operation and arrested him. The licensed .32 bore pistol used in the murder has been recovered from him.

Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta has said that the firearm used in the crime has been recovered and the main accused has been taken into custody. The bodies of the deceased have been sent to Guwahati Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. Forensic and ballistic examinations are ongoing to know the details of the incident.