The incident took place at Hotel Bilas Inn in the Bora Service area of Guwahati. According to police, a dispute between the hotel owner and the person who had leased the property escalated into a shooting, with the leaseholder allegedly carrying out the attack.
The five deceased have been identified as Helena Bharali, the owner of the hotel; her son, Devarshi Kashyap; Devarshi's wife, Riniki Kashyap; Narayan Das, a relative of the family; and Bhudev Bharali, Helena's brother.
Satyendra Pathak, who is also related to the family, sustained gunshot injuries and is undergoing treatment at Guwahati Medical College. He is reportedly responding to treatment.
Police have arrested one person in connection with the incident. The accused has been identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi, who had taken the hotel on lease.
Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta told reporters that six people sustained gunshot wounds, of whom five died from their injuries. The sixth victim is receiving medical treatment.
"The weapon used in the incident, a .32-bore licensed pistol, has been seized. Interrogation is underway, and preliminary investigation suggests that the incident stemmed from a property dispute related to the lease agreement of the hotel," Mahanta said.
He further stated that all the victims were associated with the hotel owner and alleged that the leaseholder himself opened fire, killing them.
The investigation is continuing, with police questioning the accused and examining the circumstances surrounding the dispute. Further details about the sequence of events are awaited.
Meanwhile, Assam State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi expressed grief over the incident and raised concerns about the law and order situation in Guwahati.
"Deeply saddened by the tragic firing incident at Ulubari Hotel Bilas Inn, Guwahati, in which five people have reportedly lost their lives. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," the Jorhat MP said in a social media post.
"This incident raises serious concerns about public safety and the law and order situation in Guwahati. As Chief Minister and Home Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma must take responsibility and pay more attention to rising crime," he added.
With five people dead, one injured and the alleged shooter in custody, the police investigation is focused on the circumstances of the hotel lease dispute and the events that led to the fatal shooting.
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