After Orry incident, Katra hoteliers urged to raise awareness on alcohol restrictions

A day after eight people, including social media influencer Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, were booked for allegedly consuming alcohol at a hotel in Katra— the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district—Katra’s top hotel association has urged hoteliers to remain vigilant and educate visitors to prevent such incidents in the future.

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Rakesh Wazir, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association in Katra, said he held a meeting with hoteliers in the holy town to discuss measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.

Acknowledging the challenge of monitoring guests who bring alcohol into their rooms, Wazir stated that discussions with the police are ongoing to ensure adherence to the rules.

“We have advised hoteliers to create awareness among visitors by displaying information at reception desks and other prominent places,” he said.

Wazir emphasised that this was the first such incident in Katra. “There is a ban on alcohol consumption here. In the past, we have not seen such violations because Katra is a highly religious place, and people are generally aware of and respect these restrictions,” he added.

He urged visitors to uphold the sanctity of the place by refraining from alcohol consumption while in Katra. “Maintaining the religious significance of the town is crucial,” he said, also praising the police action, which he noted had sent a strong message.

Currently, the sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol and non-vegetarian food are strictly prohibited in Katra due to its religious importance.

In a statement, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Monday that the eight accused were booked for “violating the law of the land” and that a team had been formed to apprehend them for “hurting the sentiments of the people.”

Political leaders across party lines have condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the accused.