Lack of security for foreign nationals in Hyderabad raises concern

The incident had cast shadow on the Hyderabad’s reputation which was once considered as a ‘Safe City’ in the country for tourists

Hyderabad: The recent rape of a young German woman by a city youth has exposed the vulnerabilities foreign nationals face during their visit to the heritage rich city. The incident, which took place on March 31, raised concern about the effectiveness of security measures for international visitors.

The 22-year-old victim along with her German friend had come to the city in the first week of March and had been staying at her Indian friend’s house in Meerpet. She had been touring along with her fellow countryman and visiting places of tourist and heritage interest in the city.

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While on one such visits, the suspect, Abdul Aslam, offered to give a lift and take the touring duo around the city and show them different places of interest. However, instead he allegedly sexually assaulted her near Mamidipally in Pahadishareef in the city suburb. The victim managed to escape and alert the police, leading to the registration of a case and arrest.

The incident had cast shadow on the city’s reputation which was once considered as a ‘Safe City’ in the country for tourists. While the city is known for its IT industry and cultural heritage, incidents like these highlight critical gaps in security and law enforcement.

The sexual assault on the foreign national, given the huge number of approximately 3.5 lakh international tourists and professionals visiting the city, raise concerns on ensuring their safety.

The city boasts of a robust network of CCTV cameras, yet there still appear to be vulnerable areas and dark spots, which are being misused by criminals.

Following the latest incident, police authorities are under increased pressure to implement stronger measures as the city’s tourism and business sectors may suffer setbacks if such incidents continue.