Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, March 11: In response to the brutal gangrape of an Israeli tourist and an Indian homestay owner near Hampi, the Karnataka government has issued a circular mandating strict safety measures for homestay and resort operators across the state.

The incident occurred on March 6 near the Tungabhadra Left Canal in Gangavathi town, Koppal district, close to the UNESCO heritage site. The victims were attacked while on a stargazing trip arranged by the homestay owner. The attackers assaulted two male tourists, pushing them into the canal, leading to the death of one from Odisha, before sexually assaulting the two women.

Representational image

New safety directives for homestays
The circular, issued by additional chief secretary of the home department S R Umashankar, directs homestay and resort owners to take necessary precautions to ensure tourist safety, especially when visiting remote or isolated areas.

Key measures include:

Mandatory police intimation and prior approval before taking tourists to secluded locations.
Homestay owners will be held accountable for any harm caused to tourists in such locations if permission is not obtained.
Legal action will be taken against violators.

Implementation and compliance

The circular has been sent to the state police chief, all deputy commissioners, all superintendents of police, ADGP (law and order), and the director of state intelligence. Officials must ensure that all homestays and resorts across Karnataka receive the guidelines and submit an undertaking confirming compliance.

Authorities have also been instructed to review tour itineraries to eliminate potential risks. Officers have been given a week to implement these measures and must submit a compliance report by March 18.

The Karnataka government has described the March 6 incident as deeply tragic and has assured that all three accused have been arrested. These new measures aim to prevent such incidents and enhance safety for tourists in the state.