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Death haunts foreign tourists in Varanasi

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India, is fast turning into a death-trap for thousands of foreign tourists arriving there every year in search of salvation. As many as 11 foreign tourists have been found dead under mysterious circumstances in the town since 1997.

Known for its Hindu temples and a culture steeped in religion and spirituality, Varanasi, located on the banks of river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, is a favourite tourist destination for visitors from other countries. However, because of the increase in crimes against foreign tourists, a marginal fall in tourist traffic has been witnessed in the last two years.

While 56,282 foreign tourists visited Varanasi in 1994, the numbers steadily increased to 99,270 in 1995, 121,011 in 1996 and 121,835 in 1997. However in 1998, the number dropped to 120,411. While figures for 1999 are not available, sources in Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department say a further slide looks like the most likely scenario.

One main reason why this has happened is that the state police have not been able to detect even one of the 11 cases in the last two years. A senior officer in Lucjnow did not rule out the possibility of the connivance of local policemen in hushing up the cases.

The matter was taken up at the highest level in the state capital following the death of a French tourist, whose body was found lying on the ghats on December 11. The tourist, Edic Marshal, was staying with a friend in one of the guest houses on the river banks.

''Initially, it was believed that the man had committed suicide by jumping off the roof of the guest house, but following deeper probe we discovered it was a case murder," the official pointed out.

It was during investigations into this case that the police stumbled upon evidence indicating that 10 tourists who were found dead under similar circumstances in the last two years were also murdered.

"The most gory was the case of Diana Clare Routley, a tourist from New Zealand, whose skeleton had to be exhumed from under the floor of the house belonging to a tourist guide in August 1998." That was almost a year after she was reported missing.

Senior police officials in Varanasi agree that the pilgrim town is becoming increasingly unsafe for foreign tourists. However, they add to their defence that the cases were not followed up as the victims' families and the respective embassies too lost interest after some time.

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