Guwahati: Helena B. Bharali, the owner of Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati, was an Assamese entrepreneur who built multiple businesses through years of hard work and determination. She was among the five people killed in a shooting at the hotel in the city’s Bora Service area on Monday night, allegedly following a dispute over the property’s lease.
The accused, Ghanakanta Gogoi, who had taken the hotel on lease, was arrested by police within an hour of the incident. Police said preliminary investigations pointed to a dispute related to the hotel’s lease agreement as the motive behind the shooting.
The victims included Helena, her son Devarshi Kashyap, daughter-in-law Riniki Kashyap, her elder brother Bhudev Bharali and Narayan Das, a family associate and driver. Satyendra Pathak, the hotel’s caretaker, sustained critical injuries and was undergoing treatment, according to the information provided by police.
Beyond the circumstances of her death, Helena’s life was marked by an entrepreneurial journey that began when she moved to Guwahati at a young age in search of a livelihood.
From Barpeta to Guwahati: Helena’s early life
Helena hailed from Ichapurhati in Barpeta district and was the daughter of Bilas Bharali, a well-known and affluent businessman who made his fortune in the automobile business. Her father also had a keen interest in cinema, which reportedly influenced the choice of her name. She was named Helena after the renowned dancer Helen.
After the birth of her son, Devarshi, Helena moved to Guwahati and began living in a room behind Hotel Bilas. Her father later built a three-storey house for her on a plot of land in the Jonali area of the city.
It was there that she began exploring business opportunities, initially venturing into rental accommodation. What started as a modest enterprise would eventually develop into a girls’ hostel, marking the beginning of her journey as an entrepreneur.
Building a hostel business from eight beds
Helena established a girls’ hostel in 1997, initially accommodating just eight residents. She later named the establishment Debarshina and gradually expanded its capacity to 60 beds.
Her approach to running the hostel was hands-on. She reportedly took on multiple responsibilities, serving as its warden, caretaker and cook whenever required. Her willingness to manage the day-to-day operations herself helped her sustain and expand the business.
As the hostel grew, Helena went on to establish a boys’ hostel as well, broadening her presence in the accommodation sector.
Her entrepreneurial activities extended beyond hostels and rental properties, reflecting her efforts to explore different avenues of business.
Uniform manufacturing, boutique and other ventures
Helena also founded Helena’s Technical Industry, known locally as Helena’s Karikori Udyog. Through the venture, she supplied uniforms to students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in different districts.
She subsequently opened a boutique, which reportedly gained popularity. However, owing to a lack of time to manage the business alongside her other commitments, she eventually handed it over to another person.
Her entrepreneurial journey continued with the establishment of another business named Muga on Zoo Road in Guwahati, around six years before her death, according to the account of her life.
Helena came from a family with business interests of its own. Her brother Dilip Bharali continued to be associated with the cinema hall business, including the Dilip cinema hall in Barpeta Road.
Over the years, Helena built a business portfolio that included accommodation, uniform manufacturing and retail ventures. Her journey from a small rental accommodation initiative to multiple enterprises reflected her determination to establish herself in business.
Hotel Bilas Inn shooting: What happened?
Hotel Bilas Inn, named after Helena’s father, became the scene of the fatal shooting on Monday night. The incident took place in Guwahati’s busy Bora Service area and claimed five lives, leaving another person critically injured.
Police identified Ghanakanta Gogoi as the accused. He had taken the hotel on lease, and investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute connected to the lease agreement.
Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta said six people sustained gunshot injuries, of whom five died. He also confirmed that a licensed .32-bore pistol allegedly used in the shooting had been seized.
The accused was arrested within an hour of the incident, and further investigation was underway to establish the sequence of events and the circumstances leading to the shooting.
An entrepreneurial life cut short
Helena’s story was one of a woman who moved to Guwahati with her young son and gradually built a livelihood through a series of business ventures. From managing a small girls’ hostel to expanding into accommodation, uniform manufacturing and retail, she continued to explore opportunities across different sectors.
Her death, along with that of her son, daughter-in-law, brother and a family associate, has brought a tragic end to that journey.
The shooting has also placed the dispute over Hotel Bilas Inn’s lease at the centre of the police investigation. While the preliminary findings point to a property-related disagreement, investigators are expected to establish the full circumstances of the incident as the probe progresses.