‘He chased me into a shop and shot me in the back’: Hotel Bilas Inn shooting survivor recounts horror

"I tried to escape, but he chased me and shot me in the back." Eleven days after surviving the deadly shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati's Bora Service area, Satyendra Pathak returned to his home in Barpeta on November 6, carrying the physical and emotional scars of the October 26 attack.

Pathak, the personal driver of the Bharali family and the lone survivor of the shooting, was discharged from Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) after 11 days of treatment.

Recounting the horrific sequence of events, Pathak said the trouble began when Ghanakanta Gogoi arrived at the hotel and got into a heated argument with Devarshi Bharali, son of Helena Bharali.

Following the argument, Gogoi allegedly went to the hotel reception, pulled out a pistol and opened fire, shooting Helena and Devarshi, Pathak said.

Hearing the gunshots, Pathak and others at the scene tried to flee. He ran into a nearby computer shop, hoping to escape the attack.

However, Pathak alleged that Gogoi followed him, pushed open the shop's door and attempted to shoot him. As he tried to run again, he was hit by a bullet in the back and collapsed.

People inside the shop later alerted him that he had been shot and helped him move outside. Pathak recalled being disoriented and struggling to understand what was happening after sustaining the injury.

Expressing disbelief over the attack, Pathak said he had never imagined that Gogoi, whom he described as polite and well-behaved, could carry out such an act. He also believes the shooting was premeditated.

Family seeks financial assistance

Although discharged from hospital, Pathak remains weak and is reportedly experiencing health complications, including bleeding and dizziness. His wife said doctors had advised him to rest and avoid speaking excessively.

She added that doctors had detected some heart-related complications and asked him to return for a follow-up examination after a month. Pathak is also reportedly experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the shooting.

Pathak said Gogoi's death in a police encounter had eased the family's fear, but the ordeal continues to affect their lives. The family is now seeking assistance to meet his medical expenses and rebuild their livelihood.

A father of two, Pathak has a six-year-old son, while his daughter is preparing for her board examinations. Unable to return to work because of his injuries, he has appealed to the government, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, for financial assistance to support his continued treatment and his children's education.

For Pathak's family, returning home marks only the beginning of a difficult recovery from an attack that has left lasting physical, emotional and financial consequences.