On October 15, 2024, a meeting was held at the police headquarters in Bhandara to discuss the safety of women and children, along with other important issues, attended by around 50 lodge owners from the Bhandara district. The meeting was led by Superintendent of Police Narul Hasan and Additional Superintendent of Police Ishwar Katkade, who provided guidance and directives to the lodge owners.
Key instructions included that minors under 18 years of age should not be allowed to enter the lodge without their parents, and that CCTV cameras must be installed with a storage capacity of 90 days.
Customer records and identification documents must be kept securely for five years. If foreign nationals stay at the lodge, their complete information must be reported to the local police station and also emailed to the district special branch in Bhandara.
The consumption of drugs and alcohol within the lodges is strictly prohibited. Given that Bhandara district borders the Naxal-affected areas of Gadchiroli and Gondia, any suspicious Naxal activities must be reported to the relevant police station immediately.
With assembly elections approaching in Maharashtra and a significant number of VIP visits expected in the district, lodge owners must notify the police if they have information about relevant individuals staying at their establishments.
Additionally, any illegal activities such as gambling, cricket betting, or unlicensed hookah parlors found in the lodges will result in strict action against the lodge owner as per the applicable laws. This guidance and these instructions were provided to the lodge owners during the meeting.
