India tour guide ‘drugged and raped holidaymaker’
India’s Association of Tour Operators has repeated its message to tourists not to accept assistance or food from strangers following the alleged rape of a Japanese holidaymaker by a local tour guide.
She claims she was drugged and raped by the guide, who had earlier shown her around the historic city of Jaipur.
The woman has told police she ate food he offered her, which she since believed was laced with drugs.
"They went to a couple of places on his motorbike during the day. The accused offered to drop her at the hotel in the evening but took her to a desolate area and allegedly raped her," said Dharam Chand Jain, police inspector-general for Jaipur district.
Police confirmed they have arrested several people in connection with the crime but the prime suspect, named as Ajit Singh Chaudhary, has so far evaded capture.
It follows a string of damaging incidents involving attacks on female tourists in India.
Last month, six men from Kolkata were charged with kidnap and gang-rape of a 22-year-old Japanese tourist.
The woman was allegedly held captive for a month.
"In such incidents tourism is the first casualty," said Gour Kanjilal, executive director of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.
"We have been issuing instructions to tourists not to accept help or food from strangers," he said.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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