If Shillong can do it, why not Guwahati?

Hotels in Guwahati vulnerable to crimes, thanks to lax security policy of Assam Police

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Oct 30:  If Shillong can do it, why not Guwahati?  

In many parts of India as well as Shillong in neighboring Meghalaya, the constant fear of crimes has led to tighter security measures at hotels, lodges and resorts, but the same is conspicuously missing in Guwahati. The development is unfortute, exposing the lopsided policy of the police and administration in ensuring full-proof security at hotels regularly visited by domestic as well foreign tourists, other important guests and VIPs for safe accommodation.  

“Except submitting list of their guests regularly to the nearest police stations, the city hotels are not sharing any other information, not even their employees’ bio-data with the police and administration — putting the issue of security concerns on the backburner,” a source told The Sentinel. 

Sources said even in submission of guests lists regularly, many city hotels are found amiss. Though the Crime Branch of City Police has introduced Crimatrix, an online system through which hotels can submit and update their guests list at any time of the day to the nearest police station, many hotels have not registered themselves with the online system. An officer of Paltan Bazar police station which has the largest number of hotels and lodges under its jurisdiction, told this correspondent that many of the hotels still submit their guests list manually every evening. “There is every scope of manipulation in such lists submitted by hotels to police stations,” a source said.

When this reporter contacted some of the luxurious as well as medium range hotels to know as to why they do not share other key information barring guests list with the police and administration, they cited privacy concerns of their guests. 

“We do not want to intrude into the privacy of our guests by imposing rules and regulations upon them. That does not imply that we compromise on security. We have our own way of keeping tabs on our guests, employees and other activities inside the hotel,” a mager of a hotel in Paltan Bazar said. Sources, however, said that on the pretext of maintaining privacy, some hotel magements in the city are actually covering up various crimes including flesh trade taking place inside their hotels.

Sources said the City Police verify and check backgrounds of employees engaged in leading hotels only when there are some mega events such as recent FIFA football matches and intertiol cricket matches in the city. Under such circumstances, there is every possibility that persons with crimil antecedents get to work in hotels as employees and commit crimes, sources pointed out.  

 While Guwahati Police is still at its wits end on this front, Shillong Police has already laid down strict guidelines for owners and magements of city-based hotels, lodges and guest houses. The police has asked hotels and guest houses in Shillong and other parts of Meghalaya to follow the rules so as to check crimes including flesh trade and ensure ‘Safe Secure Shillong’.

According to the guidelines, hotels and guest houses should install CCTV cameras with proper resolution, strictly maintain records of all customers and insist on identity cards. Hoteliers should also furnish records of customers to the nearest police station or beat house or outpost daily and submit bio-data of employees to the police. The police in Meghalaya has also emphasized on the significant role of hotels in making Shillong earn a good me.

When contacted, Guwahati Police Commissioner Hiren Chandra th lauded the endeavor of Shillong Police and said he will explore the possibility of following the same rules for Guwahati. He, however, said cooperation from hotels magements will hold the key for successful implementation of any security measure.