The incident has stirred concerns within the local business community. Abdul Latif Arco, owner of Hotel Arco Palace and a prominent social worker, voiced his concern over the potential impact on tourism in the capital city of Rajasthan.
Team Clarion
JAIPUR — A group of youths ransacked and looted a hotel on the busy Station Road in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. In the violent attack that lasted about half an hour, the rowdy 17-member group, wielding sticks, left a trail of destruction at Hotel Samundram, owned by a Muslim. The assailants also looted a substantial amount of cash from the hotel.
The chaos ensued in front of Rajput Hostel near Sindhi Camp Central Bus Stand. The attackers, eyewitness recounted, damaged CCTV cameras, glass items, LEDs, gates, refrigerators, fans, and engaged in looting.
Hotel owner Mohammad Sami Arko recounted the horrifying experience, detailing the entry of the assailants in the premises at around 6 a.m. The attackers allegedly issued threats to the staff. Their identities were later reportedly confirmed through CCTV footage. An immediate response to the incident was the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) at the local police station.
Sami Arko revealed that a recent altercation with some boys from Rajput Hostel, who demanded free food, may have triggered this violent retaliation. He identified the alleged perpetrators as residents of Rajput Hostel, accusing them of a pattern of threats and harassment towards the hotel and restaurant staff.
The incident has stirred concerns within the local business community. Abdul Latif Arco, owner of Hotel Arco Palace and a prominent social worker, voiced his concern over the potential impact on tourism in Jaipur. He stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of tourists, expressing concern that such incidents near the always bustling bus stand could discourage visitors.
Latif Arco, also expressing apprehension about targeted attacks based on religious identity, cited an earlier incident during a protest against the murder of Rajput Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi. He emphasised the urgency of immediate police action and the arrest of the perpetrators to safeguard Jaipur’s reputation as a tourist destination.
As the Rajasthan State President of Dalit Muslim Ekta Manch and associated with various religious social organizations, Latif Arco called for unity and condemned acts of violence. He urged authorities to promptly address the situation.