French Tourist Allegedly Assaulted by Guide in India
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French Tourist Allegedly Assaulted by Tour Guide in Tiruvannamalai
A French woman on a spiritual pilgrimage in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, was allegedly sexually assaulted by a local tour guide who misled her under the pretext of meditation. Authorities have identified and arrested the accused, 42-year-old Venkatesan, a resident of Tiruvannamalai town.
According to police reports, the woman, who is in her 40s, had arrived in the temple town in January and was staying at a private lodge while visiting various ashrams and pilgrimage sites. During her stay, she encountered Venkatesan, who convinced her that meditating on Arunachala Hill would provide spiritual enlightenment.
On Monday, the accused allegedly took the woman to a restricted area of the hill, maintained by the Forest Department, claiming it was an ideal location for meditation. It was there that the assault reportedly took place. The woman raised an alarm, attracting the attention of devotees and passersby on the Girivalam path, a pilgrimage route around the sacred hill. With their assistance, she managed to escape and subsequently contacted the French Consulate in Chennai.
Following the formal complaint lodged by the consulate with Tiruvannamalai Superintendent of Police M. Sudhakar, the case was registered at the All Women Police Station in the town.
“We immediately formed special teams to identify the suspect. Multiple witnesses reported seeing the victim ascending the hill with a local man. Our investigation initially focused on five individuals who commonly work as tour guides. The victim later identified Venkatesan during a police lineup,” an official statement said.
Upon being alerted to the incident, authorities facilitated the victim’s medical examination at the Government Medical College Hospital in Tiruvannamalai.
Tiruvannamalai, known for its historic Annamalaiyar Temple and the ashram of revered sage Ramana Maharishi, is a renowned spiritual destination attracting thousands of visitors annually, particularly from Western countries. The town, much like Puducherry, is popular among foreigners who engage in extended stays for meditation and yoga practice.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that Venkatesan is in police custody and further investigations are underway to determine if he has been involved in similar offenses in the past.
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