At the peak of the tourist season in Himachal Pradesh where its top hill-spots are jostling with tourists from across the globe, a 30-year-old American tourist was gang-raped by a truck driver and his two accomplices on the outskirts of Manali on late Monday night.
The victim was walking into the town from village Bashisht at around midnight, where she had gone to meet her team members comprising boys and girls, when she sought a lift from a truck coming towards Manali town. The truck drivers and two of
his accused accomplices were already in the vehicle, when the lady was given a lift.
The driver took the truck to a secluded location, where the accused raped the victim for nearly an hour. The victim then went to the police and narrated the incident after which her medical examination was conducted and case of rape was lodged.
Manali is at peak of its tourist season and is jostling with tourists from all over the world and nearly 5,000 vehicles are entering and leaving the city each day. All the hotels and guest houses stands jam packed with tourists.
DGP B Kamal Kumar confirmed the incident of rape and said that police is taking all steps to nab the accused. “We have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Central range Inspector general of police Panchi lal Thakur and woman constable has been deployed with the victim, to counsel her,” said Kumar.
He added that three suspects have been detained, but not arrested and interrogation is underway. Police had blocked all entry check points at Kullu district and Manali specifically and trucks are being frisked across the State.
“A massive man hunt had begun after the incident but utmost care is being taken that no tourists are unnecessarily harassed in the entire exercise,” said Kumar adding that very soon the accused will be rounded up.
Kullu Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Dhawan narrating the incident said that the victim had arrived from Delhi on Monday itself and in the evening went to Bashisht village a place of hot natural geysers, after she learnt that her team members have reached that place.
“She was curious and unaware of the place and at around 12am, she started walking towards the town hoping to find a taxi on the way, but unable to find a taxi, she saw a truck coming and asked for a lift at around 12.45 am,” said Dhawan.
Based on the information provided by the victim, three suspects were rounded up in the morning from a garage and were thoroughly interrogated.
However, after interrogation it was found that all the three suspects were innocents and were released in the evening.
DGP B Kamal Kumar said that American embassy has been informed about the incident and soon an official of the embassy will be reaching to Manali to meet the victim. He said that victim is traumatized and had requested the police to not to disclose her identity, like her native place and her name as her aged parents back home, will worry and may suffer some serious health problem due to tension.