Mysuru cops direct homestays, resort owners to ensure safety of tourists

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: After the shocking gang-rape of a foreign tourist in Hampi, Mysuru police held a meeting with owners and representatives of resorts and homestays and directed them to take up safety measures for tourists. Addressing the meeting here on Thursday, superintendent of police N Vishuvardhan asked owners of homestays and resorts operating at tourist destinations across the district to ensure the safety of tourists including foreign nationals.

He said the state government has issued a circular in the wake of the horrific gangrape of an Israeli female tourist and an Indian homestay owner near the Tungabhadra Left Canal in Gangavathi town, Koppal district, close to the UNESCO heritage site, Hampi. He wanted them to take prior permission from the jurisdictional police whenever tourists are taken to remote or isolated locations.

If tourists are taken to such locations without police permission, the homestay owners will be held responsible for any attacks by anti-social elements or wild animals. They will also face legal consequences as per the law, Vishnuvardhan said. He also instructed them to review the itineraries of homestays and resorts to ensure that planned visits do not involve risky locations. Additional superintendent of police L Nagesh was present.