Kolkata, Oct. 4 -- A Noida resident, identified as Palash Ray, was arrested for allegedly molesting two women from Nagaland in the JW Marriott Hotel lobby late on Saturday night.

The victims, from Dimapur, were in the lobby to see off the Brazilian football team when they arrived after an exhibition match that took place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, popularly known as the Salt Lake Stadium.

It is alleged that while the two women were cheering for the Brazilian footballers, the accused touched them inappropriately and outraged their modesty. Immediately after the incident, the accused reportedly fled before the women could mark him. On being informed about the situation, the hotel authority informed the Pragati Maidan Police Station about the incident. Initially police conducted an inquiry at the spot.

Meanwhile, one of the women lodged a written complaint at the Pragati Maidan Police Station following which a case was registered under Section 74 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

During investigation, police checked the CCTV footage of the area in the lobby where the crime had taken place and spotted the accused. While trying to ascertain his identity, cops came to know from the hotel authority that he was a guest there and Ray was subsequently arrested from the hotel room.

It may be mentioned that this is the second similar incident reported at the prominent luxury hotel within a week, raising serious concerns over women's safety. On September 27, a youth identified as Mohammed Rafey Azim, a resident of Tiljala, was arrested for allegedly assaulting and molesting a woman inside the hotel premises.

The woman, a resident of New Alipore, had visited 'Toy Room', a discotheque located within the hotel property. According to her complaint, Azim and his associates allegedly blocked her path, used obscene language and physically assaulted her and her friends before fleeing the spot. He was later tracked down with the help of CCTV footage and charged with wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt and outraging the modesty of a woman.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.