J&K Police has registered five cases against hotels, homestays and houseboats owners for allegedly violating mandatory Form-C reporting norms under the Immigration & Foreigners Act.
Police said in Srinagar’s Rajbagh area, it was found that Hotel Blossoms, Hotel Grand MS, and Hotel Golden Forest had allowed foreign nationals to check in without submitting Form-C to the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO).
Accordingly, FIR under sections 8 & 23-B of the Immigration & Foreigners Act was registered at Police Station Rajbagh.
In Khanyar area, Hotel Khyber, located in Khayam, was also found violating Form-C reporting requirements.
Police said despite repeated instructions, the management failed to produce any proof of Form-C submission and as a result, FIR was registered under relevant sections of law at Police Station Khanyar.
In Lal Bazar area, IMY Home Stay, Nowabagh Bagwanpora, owned by Mohammad Aslam Baktoo, was found operating without Form-C compliance for Starobinsky Lior, a foreign national from Israel, along with others.
Police said the management had deliberately concealed the stay of the foreign guest and failed to submit mandatory online Form-C reporting. Accordingly, FIR was registered at Police Station Lal Bazar.
In Nishat area, house owner Mohammad Ashraf Zargar was found in non-compliance of the mandatory reporting of Form C to FRO. In this connection, FIR was registered in Police Station Nishat.
In Ram Munshi Bagh, four houseboats – Floating Castle, Best View, Crystal Palace and Lake Palace – were found accommodating foreign nationals from Taiwan, Russia, Romania and Spain without mandatory reporting. FIR was lodged at Police Station RM Bagh.
Police said further investigation into the cases is underway to uncover forward and backward linkages.
Srinagar Police reiterated that all hotels, guest houses, houseboats and homestay operators must strictly comply with Form-C submission norms when accommodating foreign nationals.
“Non-compliance of the same is a serious offence and will invite strict legal action,” police said.
