Jonmoni Gogoi, wife of Ghanakanta Gogoi, the prime accused in the October 26 shooting at Guwahati’s Hotel Bilas Inn that killed five people, surrendered before Dhemaji Police after remaining missing for several days.
She had reportedly gone missing after the incident, prompting police to search for her, the couple’s children and the cab driver who allegedly transported them following the shooting. Investigators had also been preparing to summon her for questioning to establish the sequence of events before and after the incident.
Meanwhile, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) continued to question Ghanakanta Gogoi daily at Latasil Police Station. He remained in seven-day police custody after surrendering before Basistha Police on the night of October 26.
During questioning, Gogoi reportedly claimed that he had opened fire in self-defence. Investigators were examining the claim as they probed the circumstances surrounding the killings and the alleged financial and lease dispute behind the attack.
The shooting took place at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati’s Ulubari area, leaving five people dead, including the hotel’s co-owners and members of their family. Police said Gogoi had taken the hotel on a five-year lease in September 2025.
The victims were identified as co-owner Helena Bharali, her elder brother Bhudev Bharali, Helena’s son Debarshi, her daughter-in-law Rinika, and hotel caretaker Narayan Das. Investigators suspect a financial dispute between Gogoi and the hotel owners led to the shooting.
Separately, the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court issued directions to police concerning Gogoi’s safety and treatment during custody. It ordered that adequate police personnel accompany him if he was taken out for evidence discovery between sunset and sunrise, with an officer of Deputy Superintendent of Police rank present during the proceedings.
The court also prohibited custodial torture and directed the investigating officer to ensure that Gogoi underwent a medical examination every 24 hours during police remand. Police were instructed to provide him with hygienic food, drinking water and other basic necessities while following custodial detention rules.
Gogoi was arrested on October 26, several hours after the alleged shooting, and remanded to seven days of police custody on October 27. The SIT is continuing its investigation into the killings and the suspected financial dispute.
