Team Herald
PANJIM: With Goa Police on a drive cracking down on rented houses violating security measures, North District Magistrate has asked landlords of residential as well as commercial rental premises to ensure tenant verification.
As per the order valid till September 16, 2016, owners of residential accommodation, and the owners/management of hotels, lodging and boarding, private guest houses, paying guest accommodation of religious bodies should mandatorily verify the bonafides of tenants through identity proofs such as election card, driving license, aadhar card, passport or other government licenses.
The order also states that tenant/visitor/guest verification forms be filled before persons are allowed to use the premises, and the details furnished to the local Police Station. The order also applies to owners of premises who have so far not furnished verification forms but rented out their premises.
The State police have in the meantime launched a crackdown by booking 800 landlords till date and seeking action against them in separate reports to the district magistrates.The magistrates have been regularly issuing advisories to ensure security.
In the past, several houses, particularly along the northern coastal belt, were found to have been rented to persons without verification. Some of the tenants were later identified as terrorists and arrested elsewhere by different investigating agencies.
