Gang rape incident dents Hampi’s image, foreign tourists head home or move to other destinations
While the gang rape incident has driven tourists away, homestay operators in and around Hampi have also become wary of possible government action.
3 min read
The gang rape took place on March 6, when the group of five had gone to the Sanapur lake for star gazing. Several foreign tourists, who had put up in homestays and guest houses, left Hampi after two women including an Israeli tourist were recently gang raped near the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Two men, one from Maharashtra and another a US national, were injured during the gang rape incident carried out by three bike-borne criminals. The incident also left Bibash, 26, a native of Odisha, dead. The gang rape took place on March 6, when the group of five had gone to the Sanapur lake for star gazing. The police have arrested two accused, Sai Chetan and Mallesh, and have nabbed another suspect but have not revealed his name yet.
“The incident (gang rape) is really scary and we are concerned about our safety. We had plans to stay here till Holi but now we will be heading to Pushkar in Rajasthan,” said Israeli tourist Talia Zilber, 21, who along with five of her friends – all in their early 20s – left Karnataka on Sunday.
There are about 500 accommodations for tourists in and around a 10-km radius of Hampi, mostly in places like Basapur, Sanapur, Anegundi, and Hanumanahalli.
When The Indian Express visited the villages on Sunday, foreign nationals were seen traveling in groups. Jonathan Lemon, 23, an Israeli national, said, “Our homestay owner has been particular that we should move in groups during the day and he has shared his contact number for emergency reasons. He has also told us to return by 8.30 pm.”
Homestay owners and operators said the gang rape incident has created panic among tourists. Kiran Hanumanahalli, a local homestay operator, who is nicknamed Pablo by the tourists, said, “The information about the gang rape spread like wildfire on WhatsApp groups and about 400 people, mainly Israelis, have left since March 7.”
Locals fear demolition drive
While the gang rape incident has driven tourists away, the homestay operators have also become wary of possible government action. Almost all the homestays and guest houses operating in and around Hampi are unregulated.
These accommodations started to mushroom after shacks in Virupapur Gaddi, popularly known as Hippie Island, were demolished following a Supreme Court order in 2020.
As the tourism business thrived, many villagers gave up farming and built homestays. Ramanjaneyalu, a homestay owner, said, “Whenever an incident like this is reported, the district administration and Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority conduct a demolition drive. It takes away our livelihood. The government also doesn’t provide us permission to operate. We are living in fear.”
“Foreign tourists visit from August till March end. But, this time, the numbers were less and now this incident (gang rape) will further affect tourism in the region,” said another homestay owner Harisha Sanapur.
The police and district authorities in Koppal, under which the crime spot falls, and in neighbouring Vijayanagara held meetings with homestay owners and tourist operators both on Saturday and Sunday in the wake of the gang rape incident.
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