French tourist assaulted by fake guide in Tamil Nadu

A French woman visiting India was reportedly sexually assaulted by a man posing as a tour guide. The incident took place on Monday in the Tamil Nadu state, specifically near the Arunachaleswara temple in Tiruvannamalai. The 29-year-old suspect, Venkatesan, allegedly lured the woman to a secluded area under the pretense of meditation. After the attack, the woman was able to seek help from bystanders and reported the incident to the police. She was subsequently taken to a local hospital for a medical examination. Indian police acted quickly, arresting Venkatesan just a day later. Tiruvannamalai's superintendent of police confirmed the swift investigation, which involved multiple witnesses who saw the victim with the suspect. The police are now looking into any previous offenses he may have committed. This incident follows other serious cases of sexual violence in India, raising concerns about tourist safety. Just a week ago, a British woman was raped in Delhi after meeting a man online. Furthermore, there have been reports of gang rapes involving foreign tourists in recent months. Police statistics show a rising number of sexual assaults, with more than 31,000 cases of rape recorded in 2022. Activists and officials are under pressure to improve safety measures for both locals and tourists.