Move follows SP report that criminals use bogus IDs, rented rooms before committing offences
MARGAO
South Goa District Magistrate Egna Cleetus, IAS, has issued an order directing owners of all houses, buildings, flats and other residential accommodation — as well as the owners/management of hotels, lodging and boarding establishments, shacks, private guest houses, paying guest facilities and religious bodies — to verify the antecedents of people staying on their premises.
The action follows a report from the Superintendent of Police, South Goa, stating that criminals intending to commit crimes in Goa generally stay in hotels or rented premises using fictitious names, bogus residential/official addresses and phone numbers. After the crime, it becomes difficult to trace the culprits, as the information recorded in hotel/guest house registers is often found to be false on verification.
Invoking Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the District Magistrate has ordered that owners/management of all such accommodations across South Goa District must verify the identity of persons through valid ID such as Election Card, Driving Licence, Aadhaar Card, Passport, Smart Card, etc.
The order further states that no landlord, owner or person of any premises in South Goa shall let, sublet or rent out accommodation to anyone unless the particulars of the tenant have been furnished to the Officer-in-Charge of the concerned police station.
In-Charges of such premises must also facilitate inspection and maintain records for police authorities or any authority authorised by the DM.
Heads/In-Charges of nationalised banks in South Goa must deploy security guards at ATMs round-the-clock and install CCTV cameras or ESS (Electronic Survey System) with panic button/hooter, two-way communication and remote control.
Deputy Collectors and Sub Divisional Magistrates have been authorised to verify violations and file FIRs. The SP (South) has been directed to alert all police stations and submit violations under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
