Security tightened in city hotels in wake of terror attacks

In a bid to ensure that no untoward incident takes place in the city, the Kolkata Police directed 

Officers-in-Charge (OC) of all police stations to ensure that hotels in their respective areas maintain proper record of the visitors and asked them to give a daily report to the concerned officer to the nearest police station.

This comes after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) didn’t get proper records of suspected IS activist Musa’s stay in a guesthouse during his prior visit to the city. Musa was arrested from Burdwan railway station in Viswa Bharati Fast Passenger on July 5. It may be mentioned that the city police had also taken steps to ensure the security of the Consulates of different countries in Kolkata after repeated incidents of the terror attacks in different parts of the world and had held meeting with Consul Generals of five countries on Friday.

Installation of surveillance cameras at the reception of the hotels, whether small or big, is a must. Sources said that the direction has been given to take necessary legal steps against owners of hotels and guest houses who do not follow the norms.

OC’s of all the police stations were asked to let the owners and employees of the hotels know that they must contact the police if anyone wants to stay without showing any valid documents and at the same time they must inform the police if they find anyone moving around suspiciously.

At the same time, the police have also urged the authorities of star hotels to tighten up the security arrangement and not to allow anyone enter the hotel premises without proper checking.

Policemen in informal wear will also be posted in areas where a large number of people from abroad assemble or prefer to visit. Though the police are yet to get any alert on terror strike or any other such probabilities from the central intelligence agency, the city police are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure the security of the city dwellers and people visiting the place.

It may be recalled that seven persons, all residents of the neighbouring country, had taken shelter in a hotel at Chandni Chowk, were caught for sneaking into the country without valid documents in August 2015.