Investigation Underway in Guwahati

GUWAHATI — Weeks after a horrific shooting shook the city, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), alongside Guwahati Police, brought the prime accused back to the crime scene on Monday to meticulously reconstruct the sequence of events at Hotel Bilas Inn.

The accused, Ghanakanta Gogoi, was escorted to the hotel located in the Bora Service area. It was here that five individuals were shot dead and another severely injured during a high-stakes meeting regarding a property lease and management dispute on October 26.

Reconstructing the Fatal Encounter

Investigators utilized dummy bodies placed at precise locations inside the premises to map out where each victim fell during the attack. A dummy firearm was also employed to help forensic experts and detectives determine the exact positioning of the shooter and the victims when the rounds were fired.

According to law enforcement officials, the exercise forms a crucial component of the SIT's ongoing probe to rigorously verify Gogoi’s statements against physical and forensic evidence gathered from the scene.

"The reconstruction allows us to match the accounts provided by the accused with the empirical evidence recovered from the site," said a senior police official closely associated with the investigation.

Dispute Over Hotel Management

Preliminary findings indicate that the violence erupted following a mounting commercial conflict between Gogoi—who had acquired the hotel on a lease—and the owners regarding management rights and operational facilities. A meeting had been convened on the fateful day to amicably resolve the grievances, but discussions quickly deteriorated into a physical altercation before Gogoi allegedly drew his weapon.

Investigators suspect that Gogoi utilized a licensed .32-bore pistol to carry out the shooting. Records show the firearm license was originally issued in Nagaland, prompting the SIT to broaden its probe into the licensing authorities and verification protocols.

Tragic Toll and Ongoing Recovery

The shooting claimed five lives: hotel owner Helena Bharali (58), her elder brother Bhudev Bharali (65), her son Debarshi Kashyap (39), daughter-in-law Rinika Kashyap (30), and an associate, Narayan Das (48). Four of the deceased belonged to the same immediate family.

Meanwhile, Satyendra Pathak (43) sustained bullet injuries during the rampage but survived the onslaught. He continues to receive medical treatment at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

Guwahati Police acted swiftly on the day of the incident, arresting Gogoi within an hour and seizing the weapon allegedly used in the crime. The SIT's comprehensive probe continues as authorities prepare to finalize their findings for judicial proceedings.