Karnataka Government Issues Strict Guidelines for Homestays and Resorts Following Hampi Gangrape Case

Bengaluru: In response to the recent gangrape of an Israeli tourist and an Indian homestay owner near the Tungabhadra Left Canal in Koppal district, the Karnataka government has issued new safety guidelines for homestays and resorts operating across the state’s tourist destinations.

The circular, issued on Tuesday, mandates that homestay owners must take full responsibility for the safety of all tourists, including foreign nationals. If tourists are taken to remote or isolated locations, prior permission from the police is now mandatory. Failure to do so will make the homestay owners legally accountable for any incidents involving anti-social elements or wildlife attacks.

The directive, signed by S. R. Umashankar, Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department), has been sent to the State Police Chief, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, ADGP (Law and Order), and the Director of State Intelligence.

Authorities have been instructed to ensure that every homestay and resort in Karnataka complies with the new safety measures and to obtain written undertakings from their owners. They have also been tasked with reviewing the itineraries of these establishments to prevent tourists from visiting risky locations without adequate security.

Officials have been given a deadline of March 18 to implement the guidelines and submit a compliance report.

The new safety measures come after a shocking incident on March 6, when an Israeli woman and an Indian homestay owner were brutally assaulted and raped near Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

According to the circular, the victims, along with two other tourists, had gone stargazing after dinner near the Tungabhadra Left Canal in Gangavathi town when they were attacked by three anti-social elements.

The assailants assaulted the two male tourists, pushed them into the Tungabhadra Canal, and raped the two women. Tragically, one of the male tourists, an Odisha native, lost his life after being thrown into the water.

The circular describes the incident as deeply distressing and underscores the necessity of strict regulations to prevent such crimes in the future.

Following the heinous crime, the Karnataka Police acted swiftly and arrested all three accused involved in the attack.