Assault on Delhi family in Goa: Hotel says guests started fight
Panaji (PTI): The management of a Goa hotel where a Delhi-based family was allegedly assaulted blamed the guests saying they started the fight.
The members of the family holidaying in the coastal state were attacked at the famous Anjuna beach by a group of people armed with a knife and other weapons, the police had said on Monday. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.
Police have arrested five persons for the attack that left members of both groups injured.
In a media release, Spazio Leisure Resort said that complainant Ashwani Kumar and other members of his group were found violating the no-smoking policy by smoking hookah by the side of the swimming pool.
It said the guests got abusive and used "derogatory expletives" when told to stop smoking hookah. "One Jatin Sharma even manhandled a hotel staff member by pushing him around and threatened that he leave the hotel immediately, else they want a full refund for spoiling their holiday mood," said the hotel on Wednesday.
To pacify the guests, the hotel said, the staffers were asked to remain off duty. The staff member and his brother returned in the evening to collect his mobile charger and remained on the road outside, it said.
When Ashwani Kumar spotted the two on the road, he started an argument with them, "clicking their photograph which was unwarranted", the hotel management said. He verbally abused "the boys using derogatory expletives at the top of his voice which attracted the attention of his group members, who all at once came running to the public road from inside the hotel", said the hotel.
"Eyewitnesses on the public road witnessed Mr Jatin Sharma and his group thrashing the hotel staff member on the roadside gutter, by hitting him with stones and punches," the management has said.
The hotel said many of its staffers and locals tried to stop the fight. Jatin Sharma is also seen in CCTV footage removing his gold chain from around his neck and handing it over to his mother before heading out to join the fight again, it said.
"Unfortunately, this fight ended in both parties being injured. As per video evidence which has been submitted to the Anjuna police and eyewitnesses, there were no swords and no local gangs that gathered outside the hotel on the public road, as claimed in media," it added.
The management said the complainants continued staying in the hotel for the next 24 hours after the clash.
The assailants rained blows on the complainant and his kin, leaving them injured, as per the First Information Report (FIR).
Earlier, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said, "We will not tolerate any violation of law and order. The law would be strictly enforced. Any illegal act in the tourism business won't be tolerated." Sawant had said people in the tourism industry should verify the background of job aspirants before employing them.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
