Guwahati hotel shooting: Accused Ghanakanta Gogoi faced false identity case in 2024
Synopsis
The man arrested for killing five people at a Guwahati hotel had reportedly faced a 2024 FIR in Jorhat for false identity and armed intimidation at a business — a prior complaint that investigators are now treating as a fresh lead into his background as the lease-dispute killing unfolds.
Key Takeaways
Ghanakanta Gogoi , the prime accused in the Hotel Bilas Inn shooting, was reportedly named in an FIR at Pulibor Police Station, Jorhat , on 12 June 2024 over false identity and armed intimidation allegations.
The shooting on 26 October at approximately 9 p.m. on GS Road, Guwahati , killed five people : Helena Bharali, Debarshi Ishan Kashyap, Rinika, Bhudev Bharali, and Narayan Das.
Driver Satyendra Pathak sustained gunshot injuries and was admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital .
Gogoi was arrested within one hour of the incident; a .32-calibre pistol was seized.
The shooting reportedly stemmed from a dispute over an expired hotel lease , with unpaid rent and electricity dues also cited.
All earlier allegations against Gogoi remain unverified; the investigation is ongoing.
The prime accused in the Hotel Bilas Inn mass shooting in Guwahati that killed at least five people on 26 October 2026 had reportedly been named in a police complaint in Jorhat district in June 2024 over allegations of false identity and an armed attempt to seize control of a business establishment. The development has placed Ghanakanta Gogoi's background under fresh scrutiny as investigators piece together the circumstances behind one of Assam's most shocking recent killings.
The Earlier Jorhat Complaint
According to available information, an FIR was lodged at Pulibor Police Station on 12 June 2024, alleging that Gogoi had misrepresented his identity and falsely claimed to be a resident of Jorhat. The complaint further alleged that he arrived at a business premises accompanied by a group, and that those present were assaulted. The allegations in this earlier case have not been independently verified, and the status of any subsequent investigation, charges, or proceedings was not immediately available.
Questions Over Gogoi's Residential Details
Investigators have also flagged inconsistencies in Gogoi's residential history. He reportedly presented himself as a resident of Zoo Road in Guwahati, but is said to have been living with his family in rented accommodation in Saukuchi since 6 October. These details are yet to be confirmed from official records. Together with the Jorhat complaint, they form part of a broader effort by police to establish Gogoi's background and prior conduct.
The October 26 Shooting
The fatal shooting took place at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday, 26 October, at Hotel Bilas Inn, located near Bora Service on GS Road in Guwahati. The five people killed were identified as Helena Bharali, her son Debarshi Ishan Kashyap, Debarshi's wife Rinika, Helena's brother Bhudev Bharali, and Narayan Das, reportedly Bhudev's caretaker. A driver, Satyendra Pathak, sustained gunshot injuries and was admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
Arrest and Seizure
Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta confirmed that Gogoi was arrested within an hour of the incident. A .32-calibre pistol, allegedly the weapon used, was also seized. The shooting reportedly erupted during a dispute over the hotel's lease agreement, which had reportedly expired, with discussions over its renewal said to be ongoing. Reports have also cited allegations of unpaid rent and outstanding electricity dues as part of the underlying dispute.
Investigation Ongoing
Police are examining the full circumstances of the lease dispute and have indicated that the earlier Jorhat complaint could serve as an additional investigative lead into Gogoi's background and prior conduct. All allegations remain subject to ongoing verification. The investigation into the Guwahati killings is continuing.
Point of View
If substantiated, suggests a pattern of coercive conduct well before the Guwahati killings — raising uncomfortable questions about why no preventive action appears to have been taken in the intervening period. Lease and property disputes have fuelled violent confrontations in Assam's commercial spaces with troubling regularity, yet this incident's scale — five dead in a single episode — is exceptional. Investigators face a dual challenge: establishing the precise chain of events on the night itself while also mapping Gogoi's prior history to determine whether systemic failures allowed a volatile individual to remain unchecked. The credibility of the inquiry will rest on whether authorities pursue the Jorhat thread with the same urgency as the primary case.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ghanakanta Gogoi, the accused in the Guwahati hotel shooting?
Ghanakanta Gogoi is the primary accused in the fatal shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati on 26 October, in which five people were killed. He was arrested by police within an hour of the incident, and a .32-calibre pistol allegedly used in the shooting was seized.
What was the earlier case against Gogoi in Jorhat?
An FIR was reportedly filed against Gogoi at Pulibor Police Station in Jorhat on 12 June 2024, alleging that he misrepresented his identity and arrived armed at a business premises with a group, assaulting those present. The status of any investigation or charges in that case is not yet known, and the allegations have not been independently verified.
What triggered the Hotel Bilas Inn shooting?
The shooting reportedly erupted around 9 p.m. on 26 October during a dispute over the hotel's lease agreement, which had reportedly expired. Allegations of unpaid rent and outstanding electricity dues have also emerged as part of the underlying dispute.
Who were the five victims of the Guwahati hotel shooting?
The five people killed were identified as Helena Bharali, her son Debarshi Ishan Kashyap, his wife Rinika, Helena's brother Bhudev Bharali, and Narayan Das, reportedly Bhudev's caretaker. A driver, Satyendra Pathak, was injured and hospitalised.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta confirmed the arrest of Gogoi and the seizure of the weapon. Police are examining the lease dispute and Gogoi's background, including the 2024 Jorhat complaint. All allegations remain subject to verification and the investigation is continuing.
