Hampi rape case: As shaken tourists pack up, owners of homestays brace for crackdown
On March 6, three youths allegedly assaulted a group of five, pushing three men into a canal leading to the death of one and gangraping the two women.
4 min read
Police investigate the gang rape and murder in Hampi. (PTI)A day after the alleged gang rape of two women — an Israeli tourist and Indian homestay owner — came to light near Hampi, gloom and fear has enveloped the tourism ecosystem that survives on footfall at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Karnataka.
On Sunday, The Indian Express witnessed groups of foreign tourists, mostly backpackers, depart homestays and guest houses in Sanapura, the village where the incident occurred and one of the many near Hampi that hosts visitors to the site. At the same time, several local hosts expressed the fear that the Koppal district administration will now crack down on the largely “unregulated” business of tourist accommodation in the area.
“The incident 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 Talia Zilber, a 21-year-old Israeli tourist who checked out of a guest house on Sunday with her group of five friends.
On March 6, three youths allegedly assaulted a group of five, pushing three men into a canal leading to the death of one and gangraping the two women.
The police nabbed one Sai Chetan and Mallesh, residents of the Gangavathi region, after going through CCTV footage taken near the spot. (Express Photo)
According to police, the deceased has been identified as Odisha native Bhibas Nayak and the two other men as US national Daniel and Maharashtra resident Pankaj. Police arrested two of the accused, Sai Chetan and Mallesh, on Saturday. The third accused was nabbed on Sunday.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Koppal and neighbouring Vijayapura (Bijapur) district administrations and police held meetings with homestay owners and tourist operators, discussing various security measures.
According to local residents and officials, there are about 500 accommodation sites in a 10-km radius around Hampi, mostly in villages such as Basapur, Anegundi and Hanumanahalli, apart from Sanapura.
Israeli tourist Jonathan Lemon said his group has decided not to step out at night.
According to Kiran Hanumanahalli, a local homestay operator, the “news about the gang rape has spread like wildfire in WhatsApp groups” of tourists. “About 400 people, mainly Israelis, left within 24 hours,” said Hanumanahalli.
But what’s worrying local homestay owners more is the fear of a “demolition drive” — although district officials said they are yet to take any such decision.
“Whenever an incident like this is reported, the administration and Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority conduct a demolition drive. It takes away our livelihood. The government doesn’t give us permission to operate,” said Ramanjaneyalu, a homestay owner. According to residents, several homestays and guest houses here are unregulated.
They said these sites started to mushroom after the homestays and shacks at another popular hotspot Virupapur Gaddi, popularly known as Hippie Island, were demolished following a Supreme Court order in 2020. As the tourism business thrived, with homestay and guest house owners earning profits ranging from `5-7 lakh every year, many gave up farming and built homestays, residents said.
According to local tourist operators, Hampi and other locations nearby witness more than 50,000 foreign tourists every year, mainly from Europe, Russia and Israel. “Foreign tourists usually come from August to March. But this time, the numbers have reduced and now this incident will further affect tourism,” said Harisha Sanapur, another homestay owner.
You May Like
Photos
