Russian tourist allegedly gangraped in Manali

Shimla: A 33-year-old foreign national was allegedly gangraped in the tourists' town of Manali in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh on early hours of Friday.

Victim a Russian, was on her way back to hotel little after midnight when two persons allegedly way laid her. After over powering her, they raped her turn–wise, said police.

The incident has sent shocks as happened when famous Kullu Dussehra celebrations had attracted hundreds of foreign tourists during week long celebrations.

Superintendent of Police, Kullu Shalini Agnihotri confirming the incident said a FIR has been registered at Manali police station under section 376 IPC on the information given by the victim.

"The accused are unknown.They were two in number.Infact, the victim had taken a short-cut route to her hotel where these persons must have taken advantage of isolation.She avoided main road," said SP Kullu.

The police have set-up a team to search for the accused, who appear to be some locals only. The victim has not been able to provide their exact identity to the police. She approached police only in the day .

"We have got her medical examination done. Further investigations were underway," said a police officer at Manali.

Reports said the victim was also accompanied by an

attendant of the Restaurant where she had gone for

dinner. But, the accused

beat him up and dragged the woman sidewise ,where they gangraped her.

Only in June 2018, a Japanese tourist was also raped in Manali and there was also been similar instance in 2016 when an Israeli national was raped in the tourists town.

Shalini says, "The police have been issuing repeated advisories to the foreign tourists, especially women, for their safety. They were also advised not drive late nights to isolated places without registered guides. Sadly many of them ignore such advisories and venture to places vulnerable to their safety."

Himachal Pradesh had witnessed a brutal case of rape and murder of 16-year-old school girl at Kotkhai in July 2017, which had led to mass protests and violence forcing the government to hand over the investigations to the CBI, after High Court orders.

Six persons, who were arrested by the police, later were found by the CBI, to have been framed-up. One of them – Suraj Singh, a Nepali labourer, had died in the police custody during interrogations.

On return to power, the BJP government led by Jai Ram Thakur had also set-up a 24X7 helpline to attend to complaints relating to sexual offences ,and also emergency response to complaints of violence against women/girls.