The “Atithi Dev Bhavo” slogan and the ongoing Raahgiri programmes meant to boost tourism in State received a jolt as in a shocking incident in Puri, manager and other staff members of a hotel attacked tourists, including females, and left them with bleeding injuries.
According to a complaint filed with the Baliapanda police on Tuesday morning, a 14-member tourist party from Manaspur, Kolkata had arrived at hotel ‘Malancha’ located at Baliapanda area close to the sea beach. They had prior booking of six rooms from March 15 to 18.
When they arrived at the hotel at about 6.30 am, the manager of the hotel asked them to wait for an hour. Till 8.30, the manger could not provide them rooms. When the tourists complained, the manager along with other staff members and locals attacked the visitors. Narayan Mandol and two other tourists sustained bleeding injuries on their head. They lodged a complaint with the Baliapanda police station.
The police registered a criminal case and sent the injured for treatment to the District Headquarters Hospital and during investigation arrested Bidhan Mandol, the manager of the hotel. Police were looking for others who assaulted the tourists.