A Russian visitor named Mash Iptas found herself far from home during a vacation in Goa. She checked into the Grand Inn in Morjim, hoping for a peaceful stay. However, a troubling incident unfolded one night when hotel staff arrived at her room to service the refrigerator and Mash was not in residence. Later that night, intruders slipped in through a window from an adjacent room to target her.
Mash was asleep when she heard unfamiliar sounds and woke to an assault she had not anticipated. One attacker twisted her hands while another pressed against her mouth to muffle her screams. She fought back, biting one of the assailants and calling for help, but no assistance arrived in time to deter the attack.
The assailants fled with a measure of Mash’s belongings, leaving behind a tooth that lay on the bed as a chilling remnant of the encounter. When Mash sought help, hotel staff refused to contact the police and instead threatened her, diminishing her sense of safety. Eventually, Mash’s friends contacted law enforcement to report the incident.
Police later detained two suspects, a 26-year-old electrician and a 29-year-old waitress, after interviewing hotel staff and verifying alibis. Through their investigations, the men confessed to the crime. Mash reportedly used her self-defense to resist, and there is an account that she bit the finger of one attacker during the struggle, an action that helped investigators identify the suspects.
In the aftermath, Mash noted that hotel personnel did not extend an apology and refused to provide essential documentation that would help move the case forward from the Russian side. She also reported that her travel agent had not made contact since March 24. (Citation: Local law enforcement records and witness statements.)
Separately, there is a mention of a prior incident involving a teenager who allegedly attacked a band member described as a one-armed drummer associated with the group Def Leppard outside a Florida hotel. The report underscores how security incidents can occur in hospitality venues and the varied responses that follow from those involved. (Citation: Local incident reports and media coverage.)