A shooting at a hotel in Guwahati, Assam, has left five people dead and another injured, raising questions about what led to the deadly incident. The firing took place on Monday night, 26 October, at a hotel in the city's Bora Service area.
As police investigate the case, the circumstances surrounding the shooting have brought a dispute linked to the hotel into focus. What happened that night, who was involved, and what have investigators uncovered so far?
What Happened At Hotel Bilas Inn?
The shooting took place at around 9 pm on Monday at Hotel Bilas Inn, near Bora Service on Guwahati's GS Road.
According to police, six people sustained gunshot injuries. Five later died, while the sixth person was receiving medical treatment.
Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta confirmed the deaths and said the police had apprehended the accused. Four of those killed belonged to the hotel owner's family, while the fifth was also associated with the owner's side.
The injured person was reportedly from the same village as the victims.
Initial reports on Monday night said four people had died and two others were critically injured. The death toll rose to five as further information emerged.
Why Did It Happen?
Police have pointed to a possible dispute over the hotel's lease agreement.
According to the preliminary investigation, the conflict involved the hotel's owners and the person who had taken the property on lease. The accused has been identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi.
Police Commissioner Mahanta said the leaseholder was suspected of carrying out the shooting. Investigators are examining the dispute to establish what led to the confrontation and how the attack unfolded.
However, the precise sequence of events and the circumstances immediately preceding the firing remain subject to investigation.
What Has The Police Done So Far?
Police arrested Gogoi within an hour of the incident.
They also seized a licensed .32-bore pistol believed to have been used in the shooting. Investigators are questioning the accused and examining evidence to establish the sequence of events.
Police have described the property dispute as a preliminary line of investigation. A scientific examination is also under way as officers work to establish the facts.
The investigation will need to establish the precise circumstances of the shooting, the events leading up to it and the evidence connecting the accused to the deaths and injury.
The Bigger Picture: When Property Disputes Turn Deadly
Property-related violence is not limited to one city. India's crime data and reported cases show how disputes over land, money and family assets can turn fatal.
According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Uttar Pradesh recorded 9,607 murders attributed to disputes, including 2,046 linked to property or land disputes and 3,088 to family disputes.
Recent cases also illustrate how such conflicts can end in violence. In December 2025, a dispute over six bighas of agricultural land in Madhya Pradesh's Tikamgarh district left three men dead and five people injured, police said.
In January 2026, a man was allegedly shot dead in Delhi's Narela area over a dispute linked to commission from a property sale, according to police. Two suspects were arrested.
The Guwahati case adds another instance to this pattern, with police suspecting a dispute between a hotel's owner and its leaseholder. The investigation is examining how the disagreement led to the fatal shooting.
TL;DR | News At A Glance
What happened in Guwahati on 26 October 2026?
Five people were killed and one person was injured in a shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati's Bora Service area.
Where did the shooting take place?
The incident occurred at Hotel Bilas Inn, near Bora Service on GS Road in Guwahati, Assam.
Why did the shooting reportedly happen?
Police suspect a dispute between the hotel's owner and its leaseholder over the lease agreement. The precise circumstances remain under investigation.
Who is the accused in the Guwahati hotel shooting?
Police identified the accused as Ghanakanta Gogoi, the person who had taken the hotel on lease.
What was the death toll in the Guwahati hotel shooting?
Five people died and one person was injured, according to subsequent police updates on 27 October. Four of the deceased belonged to the hotel owner's family.
What action has the police taken?
Police arrested the accused within an hour of the incident and seized a licensed .32-bore pistol believed to have been used in the shooting.
Is the investigation complete?
No. Police are examining the evidence and investigating the events that led to the shooting.
