Guwahati hotel shooting: Meta smart glasses seized from accused, police seek video evidence

Guwahati: Police are examining Meta smart glasses seized from the accused in the Guwahati hotel shooting to determine whether the device captured footage of the attack that killed five people at Hotel Bilas Inn in the city’s Bora Service area on October 26.

Six people sustained gunshot injuries in the incident, with five later succumbing to their wounds. Police arrested the accused, Ghanakanta Gogoi, within an hour of the shooting and seized a .32-calibre pistol allegedly used in the attack.

Police examine smart glasses for evidence

Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta confirmed the arrest. He clarified that Gogoi was neither a hired killer nor related to the victims.

Investigators are conducting forensic tests on the smart glasses. They are checking whether the device contains video or audio recordings linked to the shooting.

Any such recordings could help investigators establish the sequence of events. However, police have yet to confirm whether the glasses captured the incident.

Lease dispute suspected behind shooting

Preliminary investigations point to a dispute over the hotel’s commercial lease. Gogoi had reportedly leased the property about a year ago.

Negotiations over renewing the agreement allegedly broke down. Police are also examining reports that Gogoi had not paid rent for a year and owed substantial electricity bills.

Investigators are verifying whether these financial disputes contributed to the shooting.

Five people killed in the attack

The deceased have been identified in reports as hotel owner Helena Bharali, her son Debarshi Ishan Kashyap and his wife, Rinika. Helena’s brother, Bhudev Bharali, and Narayan Das, a caretaker from his village, were also killed.

The shooting has left two young children without their parents. The couple’s seven-year-old daughter and two-year-old son lost both parents in the attack.

Satyendra Pathak, a commercial driver, sustained serious gunshot injuries. He is receiving treatment at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

Police are questioning Gogoi and examining the seized devices. Investigators are working to establish what led to the confrontation and how the shooting unfolded.

The forensic examination of the smart glasses forms part of the ongoing investigation. Police have not confirmed whether the device contains footage of the attack.

Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.