Regulatory Failures in Meghalaya's Tourism Sector Highlighted by Murder Case

Regulatory Issues in Meghalaya's Tourism Sector

Shillong, June 17: The murder case of Raja Raghuvanshi has revealed significant regulatory shortcomings and infrastructural inefficiencies within the state's tourism industry, prompting the government to take immediate corrective measures.

One critical oversight uncovered during the investigation is that the homestay where the three suspects—Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi—were lodged in Nongriat, Sohra, failed to register their identities. The establishment neglected to request identification documents, a requirement that is supposed to be enforced.

Additionally, many homestays and hotels in Sohra lack CCTV surveillance at their entrances. Furthermore, private bike and car rental services are operating without authorization, which is against regulations.

The road connecting Shillong to Sohra is also poorly monitored, with few CCTV cameras and no street lighting.

In response, Vivek Syiem, the Superintendent of Police for East Khasi Hills, stated that homestays and hotels are now required to submit daily guest reports via the Mtime app.

“While compliance is observed in Shillong, many establishments outside the city are not adhering to this requirement,” Syiem noted.

The police are collaborating with the Tourism department to enforce these regulations strictly.

“We are introducing punitive measures to ensure compliance with guest registration norms, which currently lack enforcement,” Syiem added.

Through the Tourism department, the police will mandate the installation of CCTV cameras at hotel entrances and within premises as necessary.

“Only those who comply with regulations will be granted permits and NOCs to operate, while violators will face penalties,” Syiem emphasized.

Meanwhile, Sub-Divisional officers in Sohra have begun preparations to install CCTV cameras along the Shillong-Sohra route and are working on plans to add streetlights in Sohra and other tourist areas.

Additionally, the Transport department has reiterated that renting private two-wheelers and four-wheelers for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden in the state, with legal consequences for offenders, as stated in a recent notification.