Cochin (Kerala, India), SVM News, January 01, 2008: Foreign female tourists were molested on New Year night in Cochin in Kerala, India.
New Year festivities turned into a nightmarish experience at the Fort Kochi beach as some revellers allegedly harassed and molested some of the female tourists. When a few resisted the youth for their unruly behaviour, the miscreants beat them up.
A huge Santa Clause image was also burnt at the beach on the same night.
Police said that some of the youngsters allegedly misbehaved with the teenaged daughter of a Swedish tourist, Christon, who had come all the way to Cochin to celebrate New Year with his family.
Another foreign woman was also allegedly molested, police authorities said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.
Many of the tourists made a hurried exit from the beach after virtually being driven to tears by the revellers. "It was a real New Year 'bash'. Some of us were really running for our life. It is really sad," a woman tourist shared her bitter experience.
"We had a terrible experience when my daughter was grabbed by some men. This is really bad. We respect Indian women and expect the same from Indian men towards our ladies too," said an angry Christon. "Such behaviour would only harm the state's interests," he added.
A big posse of police personnel posted at the venue was of little help as they failed to control the miscreants.
Manoj Abraham, Cochin City Police Commissioner said, "Though the tourists have not lodged any complaint, police however, has registered a suo motu case".
An young man below 18 years old has been arrested in connection with the incident. And also the government has asked the police to keep a strict vigil at tourist destinations.
Paul Ciniraj, the president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards foreign tourists.
SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews291.html
New Year festivities turned into a nightmarish experience at the Fort Kochi beach as some revellers allegedly harassed and molested some of the female tourists. When a few resisted the youth for their unruly behaviour, the miscreants beat them up.
A huge Santa Clause image was also burnt at the beach on the same night.
Police said that some of the youngsters allegedly misbehaved with the teenaged daughter of a Swedish tourist, Christon, who had come all the way to Cochin to celebrate New Year with his family.
Another foreign woman was also allegedly molested, police authorities said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.
Many of the tourists made a hurried exit from the beach after virtually being driven to tears by the revellers. "It was a real New Year 'bash'. Some of us were really running for our life. It is really sad," a woman tourist shared her bitter experience.
"We had a terrible experience when my daughter was grabbed by some men. This is really bad. We respect Indian women and expect the same from Indian men towards our ladies too," said an angry Christon. "Such behaviour would only harm the state's interests," he added.
A big posse of police personnel posted at the venue was of little help as they failed to control the miscreants.
Manoj Abraham, Cochin City Police Commissioner said, "Though the tourists have not lodged any complaint, police however, has registered a suo motu case".
An young man below 18 years old has been arrested in connection with the incident. And also the government has asked the police to keep a strict vigil at tourist destinations.
Paul Ciniraj, the president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards foreign tourists.
SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews291.html
