At least five people were killed and several others, including women, injured in a shooting in Guwahati's Bora Service area on Monday, with police launching an operation to arrest those responsible.
The firing was reported at Hotel Bilas Inn, in a lane near a Kalyan Jewellers outlet. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta visited the spot and said the bodies had been recovered and would be sent for post-mortem examinations.
“We have recovered the bodies. These are being sent for post-mortem examinations,” Mahanta told reporters.
In a separate statement, he referred to four bodies being recovered, leaving the reported death toll unclear.
Mahanta described the incident as tragic and said police were working to apprehend the accused. The identities of the deceased have not yet been established.
Sources said several injured people had been taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for treatment. Further details about their condition were awaited.
Police officials reached the scene and launched an investigation into the shooting. The circumstances leading to the firing and the identity of those involved were not immediately known.
The Assam Congress criticised the state of law and order following the incident, raising concerns about public safety in Guwahati.
In a post on X, the party said the shooting raised “serious questions about public safety and the state of law and order in Assam”.
Expressing condolences to the victims' families, it said the people of Assam deserved better and called on the government to act and ensure accountability.