Itanagar: An FIR has been registered against four tourists from Gujarat for allegedly abusing and threatening employees of a resort in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley, police said on Tuesday.
The case was filed after a video of the alleged confrontation surfaced online and triggered public outrage.
The accused — Aastha Patel, Dhruv Patel, Smita Patel and Devendra Kumar Patel — have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to assault or use of criminal force against a woman, obscene acts and criminal intimidation, along with relevant sections of the SC/ST Act. The complaint was lodged at Anini police station.
According to the resort management’s complaint, the family had checked in on February 18 and were informed about house rules prohibiting outside food and alcohol on the premises. However, on February 20, they allegedly brought alcoholic beverages from outside and reacted angrily when reminded of the policy.
The FIR states that Aastha and Dhruv Patel allegedly used obscene and sexually explicit remarks against female staff members, while Dhruv is also accused of attempting to physically assault one of the employees. The family allegedly damaged a framed display of the resort’s rules and threatened to malign the establishment’s reputation and have it shut down using purported “influential connections”.
Resort Managing Director Rezina Mihu said she stepped in after being alerted to the situation. She noted that the district tourism officer was present at the time and efforts were made to defuse tensions amicably.
“We tried to handle the matter calmly, but their behaviour remained aggressive. Our staff, many of whom come from remote areas, were deeply shaken,” she said, adding that while the resort welcomes visitors, misconduct cannot be tolerated.
A senior police official said authorities became aware of the episode only after the video circulated on social media. “A police team was sent to verify the facts. By then, the accused had checked out on the morning of February 21,” the officer said, adding that attempts to contact them have so far gone unanswered.
Meanwhile, the Anini-based Biodiversity and Tourism Management Society condemned the incident, terming the alleged intimidation of local staff unacceptable and against the ethos of responsible tourism.
ALSO READ: Gaurav Gogoi seeks swift action over alleged racial abuse of Arunachal Pradesh women in Delhi
Expressing solidarity with the affected employees, the organisation urged a prompt and impartial investigation. It stressed that tourism should foster cultural understanding and sustainable growth without compromising the dignity and safety of host communities, and appealed to all stakeholders to maintain decorum so that Dibang Valley remains a welcoming destination for visitors.
