MANALI: With hundreds of tourists being threatened, beaten and outraged every year, domestic and foreign tourists are not feeling safe in Manali. According to sources, very few victims lodge a police complaint to avoid the long legal procedure hundreds of kilometers away from their homes.
In a recent case, four youths from Ropar, Punjab, were attacked with a sword by a car driver on Saturday evening. The injured have been admitted to Lady Willingdon hospital.
According to a statement by Naresh Kumar, one of the victims, he and his his friends — Sone Surinder Singh, Hem Raj, Devender Singh and Desh Raj — were staying in a hotel in Manali. "We came out of the hotel for dinner when a car with registration number HP02K-0636 almost hit us. When we asked driver to drive safely, he came out with a sword and attacked on us," he said.
Sources said there is nothing in the name of tourist safety in tourists' spots of Manali. Even adventurous games like paragliding, horse riding, skiing and snow scooter riding are organized without any appropriate safety measures. Many tourists sustain injuries but none complains against the service providers for fear of being assaulted.
A tourist from Ludhiana, Manjeet Singh, said, "Tourists are not safe here. Manali is a tourist place and security should be provided to all the tourists."
Another tourist from Delhi, Jaheer Ali Ansari, added, "We have been to Solang, Naggar and many tourist spots of Kullu-Manali but have not see any policemen around. Many people providing their services in Solang valley have no sense of talking and seem ready to assault tourists all the time."
Meanwhile, police have registered a case under Section 324 of IPC Act against the accused, who is now absconding. "We are taking the matter very seriously. The accused will not be spared at any cost," Manali deputy superintendent of police Sanjeev Chauhan said.
In a recent case, four youths from Ropar, Punjab, were attacked with a sword by a car driver on Saturday evening. The injured have been admitted to Lady Willingdon hospital.
According to a statement by Naresh Kumar, one of the victims, he and his his friends — Sone Surinder Singh, Hem Raj, Devender Singh and Desh Raj — were staying in a hotel in Manali. "We came out of the hotel for dinner when a car with registration number HP02K-0636 almost hit us. When we asked driver to drive safely, he came out with a sword and attacked on us," he said.
Sources said there is nothing in the name of tourist safety in tourists' spots of Manali. Even adventurous games like paragliding, horse riding, skiing and snow scooter riding are organized without any appropriate safety measures. Many tourists sustain injuries but none complains against the service providers for fear of being assaulted.
A tourist from Ludhiana, Manjeet Singh, said, "Tourists are not safe here. Manali is a tourist place and security should be provided to all the tourists."
Another tourist from Delhi, Jaheer Ali Ansari, added, "We have been to Solang, Naggar and many tourist spots of Kullu-Manali but have not see any policemen around. Many people providing their services in Solang valley have no sense of talking and seem ready to assault tourists all the time."
Meanwhile, police have registered a case under Section 324 of IPC Act against the accused, who is now absconding. "We are taking the matter very seriously. The accused will not be spared at any cost," Manali deputy superintendent of police Sanjeev Chauhan said.
