Bengaluru, 9 March  

Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday assured that security measures at tourist destinations will be significantly strengthened in the wake of recent rape of a foreign national and a homestay owner at Hampi that has sparked public outrage.

The Minister also said, moving forward, tourists visiting Karnataka will be briefed on the dos and don'ts to ensure their safety.

"Definitely we are going to step up our security measures in places like Hampi and other tourist places," Parameshwara told reporters here.

He further mentioned that the government will reassess the existing security measures.

The Minister also noted that the gruesome incident is likely to affect the tourism sector.

"On the one hand we are trying to attract tourists from across the world while on the other incidents like this deter the tourists from visiting our country."

According to Parameshwara, on the night of 6 March, two foreign nationals, including an Israeli citizen, along with two others, went out for stargazing on the banks of the Tungabhadra canal.

Three youths approached the group and asked for directions to a petrol pump. When the tourists expressed their unawareness, the youths robbed them.

One of the tourists had a verbal altercation with the three men, and in a fit of anger, the men pushed the tourists into the canal. While two tourists from US and Maharashtra managed to stay afloat the body of the third tourist from Orissa was found later.

The three accused allegedly raped two women.