Guwahati, Oct 27: An alleged lease dispute may have triggered the shooting that killed five people at Hotel Bilas in Guwahati, with relatives demanding the strictest punishment for prime accused Ghanakanta Gogoi.
The shooting at the budget hotel in South Sarania, Ulubari, around 9 pm on Monday left five people dead and one critically injured.
Four victims died on the spot, while a fifth succumbed to injuries at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Gogoi was apprehended within an hour of the incident.
The victims have been identified as Helena Bharali, her son Debarshi Ishan Kashyap, Debarshi’s wife Rinika, Helena’s brother Bhudev Bharali, and Narayan Das, an electrician who had come to the hotel for electrical wiring work. The sixth victim, Satyendra Pathak, is undergoing treatment.
Dilip Bharali, elder brother of Helena Bharali, alleged that the dispute stemmed from the hotel’s lease agreement, which was nearing its end, and Gogoi’s failure to clear outstanding dues despite repeated requests.
“Hotel Bilas Inn was on lease, but Gogoi had not paid the rent, electricity bills or any other dues. We had requested him to clear the payments, and the lease agreement was also about to end,” Dilip said, on Tuesday.
He said Ghanakanta Gogoi had called for a meeting, but he could not attend as he was busy with the Puja committee. He learnt of the shooting around 9.30 pm through news reports.
Dilip said the family was devastated by the loss of several relatives and a staff member, and appealed to the authorities to ensure the accused received the strictest punishment.
The tragedy has been particularly devastating for the family of Devarshi Kashyap, his wife Riniki Bharali and other relatives killed in the shooting.
Devarshi’s childhood friend Rubul Ahmed said the couple had two young children, aged around one-and-a-half years and three months.
“His mother, wife and other family members are no more. Who will look after these children now?” Ahmed said, describing Devarshi as a calm, caring friend who would help people even at 2 am.
Ahmed demanded swift action and a thorough investigation, alleging that the killings were pre-planned.
In an angry outburst, he said, “We want the accused to face encounter and want it within 24 hours.”
Another family member alleged that the killings were premeditated, saying the accused appeared mentally prepared to carry out the attack.
“I believe the murders were preplanned; otherwise, he could not have killed five people. We are devastated, especially over the two young children. I visited their house, but they still do not know about the killings. They only know that we will be going to Barpeta,” the family member said.
The shooting also claimed the life of Narayan Das, an electrician who had come to the hotel for wiring work. His son, Anjan Das, said his father arrived around 10 am on Monday and was expected to return home the following morning.
“My father came here around 10 am yesterday. He was doing wiring work with Bhudev Bharali and was supposed to return home this morning. I received the news around 1.30 am,” Anjan said.
As families grapple with the loss, questions over the circumstances that led to the shooting remain, with relatives demanding accountability and a thorough investigation.