City hotels offering rooms sans ID proof with impunity

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 11

Ignoring security concerns and threats in the city, attendants at local private hotels and lodges at the railway station and the bus stand are accommodating unknown people without any proof of identity.

Despite guidelines issued by the Police Commissioner, the attendants could be witnessed renting out rooms to customers without credentials after taking “extra amount” from them.

During a check by The Tribune, it was found that a visitor without an ID proof could be offered a room on further paying extra money between Rs 200 and 500. However, after the Maqsudan police station bomb blast incident that had occurred in the recent past and recovery of weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, from Kashmiri students having alleged terror links, the city police had made it mandatory for all hotels and guest houses to provide rooms to visitors only on the condition of possessing a valid ID proof. In this connection, the temporary shelter houses were raided by special search teams and action was taken against violators and unregistered lodges.

However, later the police failed to keep a check on such hotels that are usually located in the vicinity of the railway station and the bus stand.

Sources said these hotels were used for illegal activities. Also, due to the lack of questioning by the owners, visitors could easily avail the rooms by presenting fake or wrong ID proofs. Usually, couples also use such rooms without giving their credentials to hide their identity. In addition, assistants and helpers in the absence of the hotel owners, offer the rooms to visitors without ID proofs.

The bus stand comes under the jurisdiction of the Police Division No. 6. SHO Onkar Singh Brar claimed that he routinely raids such areas and as per DSP orders, offenders were booked under Section 188 of the IPC for lodging visitors without ID proofs.

ACP, North, NS Mahal, said hotels near entry and exit points of the city were usually checked during occasions such as Republic Day, Independence Day and New Year’s Eve. Moreover, entries at these hotels were crosschecked only when any illegal activity was reported to have occurred.

Violating guidelines

Despite guidelines issued by the Police Commissioner, attendants at hotels could be witnessed renting out rooms to customers without credentials after taking “extra amount” from them. During a check by The Tribune, it was found that a visitor without an ID proof could be offered a room on further paying extra money between Rs 200 and 500.