‘Bengal, Bangladesh Same Thing’: 14-Year-Old Skater, Father From Kolkata Denied Stay At Noida Hotel; OYO Apologises

Noida: A tech professional and his 14-year-old son, who is a national-level skater, were allegedly refused accommodation at a Sector 44 hotel in Noida after being mistaken for Bangladeshis. The duo had travelled from Kolkata for a skating tournament scheduled in the city.

The father said he had booked a two-night stay through OYO at Hotel Meera Eternity to be close to the skating arena, where registration was to start early the next morning, as per reports from Time Of India. However, on arrival, the hotel’s receptionist allegedly told them that the local police had instructed hotels not to accommodate guests from Bangladesh, Punjab or Jammu and Kashmir until August 15 due to security concerns.

“I told them we are from West Bengal, not Bangladesh. But the receptionist insisted it was the same thing and refused to check us in,” the father told TOI. Left without a nearby option, he called OYO customer service multiple times before finally arranging to stay at another hotel in Sector 49, much farther from the venue. He was promised a refund within 7–10 days.

OYO’s Response

An OYO spokesperson said that the company had not issued any such instructions to hotels and does not support any form of discrimination. The platform removed Hotel Meera Eternity from its listings on Tuesday and launched an internal inquiry into the incident.

Police Clarification

Noida Police confirmed that there was no official order to bar guests from Bengal or any Indian state. He clarified that hotels are only advised to verify identity and visa documents for Bangladeshi nationals and even they can stay if their papers are in order.