Ranchi Administration Cracks Down on Illegal Hostels After Sex Racket Bust

Ranchi: The busting of an alleged sex racket from a hostel at Lalpur on Sunday has prompted the Ranchi administration to increase vigil across illegally operating hostels and paying guest facilities.According to RMC, there are around 130 hostels registered with the civic body, but the actual number of operational facilities may exceed 5,000. Many of these are suspected to be functioning without registration, leaving a regulatory gap that officials say has contributed to unlawful activities.“Dedicated tax collector teams will be deployed to identify hostels and PGs. Unregistered facilities will first receive a notice.

If they fail to comply, they will be served up to three legal notices before sealing the property. This is not just about revenue but also about ensuring safety and accountability,” said Gautam Prasad Sahu, Deputy Municipal Commissioner.Police authorities echoed the concern, citing lapses in tenant documentation. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chandan Sinha said, “It is often found in hostels or paying guests that tenants are staying without proper registration.

When they move in, they don’t always provide complete documentation, which creates a security risk. The Lalpur raid was based on specific intelligence, but such incidents underline the need for stricter checks.

”City SP Ajit Kumar said, “We will coordinate with the Municipal Corporation to make it mandatory for owners to register all their tenants with proper identification. Every tenant will have to be on police records, and owners will be held responsible for compliance.”Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri said an advisory will be issued to hostel and PG owners, suggesting police verification of all tenants. “There should be a licensed agreement between owners and tenants. We will also impose stricter enforcement of the legal functioning of hostel services,” he said.Rohit Kumar, who runs a registered girls’ hostel in Lalpur, said, “We have imposed stricter regulations on tenants.

Every student has to sign a rental agreement, submit permanent address proof, mention their purpose of stay in Ranchi, and provide details of a local guardian. This not only protects the hostel but also ensures accountability.”“For many of us, hostels are a chance for empowerment, to study or work in Ranchi away from home. But whenever such cases happen, society begins to doubt all hostel residents, which is unfair. It creates stigma for those of us who are here genuinely to build our future,” said Priya Kumari, a college student.