A tour guide took a 46-year-old French woman to the top of a sacred hill in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district after promising her that she would attain ‘moksha’ (salvation) there and sexually assaulted her, as per reports.
The victim had been living at a private ashram in Tiruvannamalai for the past few months. She, along with a group of guides, climbed the 2,668-foot-high Deepamalai hill despite a public access ban imposed by authorities following last year’s landslide.
On the hilltop, there was a cave where she and a tourist guide named Venkatesan went to meditate. After they entered the cave, Venkatesan allegedly sexually assaulted her.
The woman escaped and filed a complaint with the Tiruvannamalai West Police. After receiving the complaint, police arrested the accused.
According to reports, the victim was admitted to the district government hospital for treatment, and the investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu is recognised for its spiritual significance, featuring 14 sacred sites, including the Annamalaiyar Temple and Ramana Maharishi Ashram. The area has long attracted international visitors seeking spiritual enlightenment, with many staying for extended periods.
British woman raped in Delhi
In a separate incident on March 13, a British woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man she had connected with on Instagram at a hotel in Delhi’s Mahipalpur area. She also reported being molested by another man in the hotel elevator when seeking assistance.
Police have detained both suspects. The woman had initially met the accused through social media and decided to meet him in person in India after developing regular communication, according to police. Both suspects have been arrested, and authorities have notified the British High Commission about the incident as they proceed with their investigation.
