Chennai Police now claim they have instructed hotel and lodge owners in the city to inform nearby police stations regarding visitors who stay in their premises, as part of efforts to ensure security for foreign tourists visiting the city.
The move comes in the wake of the reported attack on several Sri Lankan tourists by activists belonging to a pro-LTTE outfit on August 3.“As per the City Police Act, all hotels and lodges are supposed to inform the nearest police stations of the stay of any foreign visitor in their premises. Though the directive was in force, no hotel authority follows this and we have instructed them to comply with this directive,” a senior police officer was quoted as saying by PTI.
Three activists belonging to ‘‘Naam Thamizhar’’ were arrested in connection with the alleged attack on the Lankan tourists, and security has been tightened at places frequented by foreigners. Indian media however reported earlier today that the Chennai city police had instructed hotels in the city not to accommodate pilgrims from Sri Lanka following the recent attacks. “A few hotels and lodges in North Chennai are denying rooms to the pilgrims from the Maha Bodhi Society, citing orders from the police,” officials from the society had said.