Siliguri, March 6: Tightening security arrangements in the region, police today asked hotels and lodges to furnish details about guests putting up at their establishments.

The meetings were held at police stations in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Siliguri and Matigara, among others.

?The aim was to make the hoteliers aware of the possibility that their establishments could be used as safe houses by the KLO, Ulfa and Maoists,? said superintendent of police Rajeev Mishra.

?We, especially, want information on suspicious visitors who put up at hotels frequently and are able to pay hefty bills without apparently seeming to have the means to do so. Such people could have links with extremist or anti-social activities,? he explained.

According to J. Haldar, a manager of a leading hotel in Siliguri, hoteliers already had to submit daily reports on all foreigners registering at the hotels to the district intelligence bureau.

The meetings come after Siliguri police made it mandatory, two weeks ago, for all landlords in the trading town to furnish details about their tenants, including names, family members, occupation and permanent addresses.

Though both measures existed before, they were not being strictly enforced.

It was only after two Nepal Maoists were arrested from a flat in a Siliguri locality recently that the police force decided to strengthen security measures.

Mishra said nearly 370 hoteliers attended the meeting at Siliguri police station, which was chaired by additional superintendent of police Tripurari. Over 50 hoteliers attended each of the meetings that were convened at Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

?We have tried to rope in every establishment that offers boarding facilities, like lodges and paying guest units,? the police official said.

For the hundreds of small motels and lodges in the Siliguri and Bagdogra region that do not even maintain a register, the guest-book has been made mandatory.

Police teams will also make surprise checks at regular intervals to see whether the instructions are being followed, Mishra added.

The move is also expected to help crack down on unscrupulous brokers who cheat and harass tourists in Darjeeling and Kalimpong town. ?These touts often mislead tourists who arrive at the bus and train terminals,? a police official said.