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British rafters flee armed robbers through the River Ganges
A British couple on a rafting adventure fled through the holy waters of the River Ganges after being targeted by armed attackers in India.
Matthew, 30 and Jessica Kidd, 28, from Glasgow, had set up camp for the night while on a rafting trip along the eastern part of the waterway, revered by Hindus, and were relaxing in their tent when they were attacked by two men, the couple told cameras at a press conference on Tuesday.
Mr Kidd said: "We were camping on an island when two men approached us with weapons. For an hour one pointed a gun at us.
"We managed to escape by running into the water and we managed to cross to a village, where locals phoned the police."
Police paraded two suspects before the cameras, both with their faces covered, and confirmed to The Telegraph that they have been charged under “offences against foreigners, looting and molestation charges”, and would face a speedy trial.
Jessica in India Credit: Caters news Agency
Mr Kidd positively identified the men, saying: "These are the men that threatened us violently - this is them", as Mrs Kidd pointed at them.
The assault happened in Pandarak, around 65 miles east of Patna, in the state of Bihar. The Kidds were making their way across the country towards Kolkata, aiming to reach the eastern city by mid December,
"We are on an adventure tour in a raft moving downstream on the river Ganga from Haridwar to Kolkata”, said Mr Kidd.
"The youngsters tried to loot us and even misbehaved with my wife. However, we tried to save ourselves and reached a spot called Kalighat."
At Kalighat, villagers called police. The couple are at present under the protection of Patna police, but they have decided to resume their journey soon.
This is the third attack on western tourists in India in the past fortnight, after a German man was attacked at a railway station in the state of Uttar Pradesh and a Swiss couple were left hospitalised in Agra, near the site of the Taj Mahal.
The tourism minister, KJ Alphons, has since claimed that India remains a safe destination for tourists.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/07/british-rafters-flee-river-gangesfrom-armed-robbers/
- Saptarshi Ray, in Delhi
A British couple on a rafting adventure fled through the holy waters of the River Ganges after being targeted by armed attackers in India.
Matthew, 30 and Jessica Kidd, 28, from Glasgow, had set up camp for the night while on a rafting trip along the eastern part of the waterway, revered by Hindus, and were relaxing in their tent when they were attacked by two men, the couple told cameras at a press conference on Tuesday.
Mr Kidd said: "We were camping on an island when two men approached us with weapons. For an hour one pointed a gun at us.
"We managed to escape by running into the water and we managed to cross to a village, where locals phoned the police."
Police paraded two suspects before the cameras, both with their faces covered, and confirmed to The Telegraph that they have been charged under “offences against foreigners, looting and molestation charges”, and would face a speedy trial.
Jessica in India Credit: Caters news Agency
Mr Kidd positively identified the men, saying: "These are the men that threatened us violently - this is them", as Mrs Kidd pointed at them.
The assault happened in Pandarak, around 65 miles east of Patna, in the state of Bihar. The Kidds were making their way across the country towards Kolkata, aiming to reach the eastern city by mid December,
"We are on an adventure tour in a raft moving downstream on the river Ganga from Haridwar to Kolkata”, said Mr Kidd.
"The youngsters tried to loot us and even misbehaved with my wife. However, we tried to save ourselves and reached a spot called Kalighat."
At Kalighat, villagers called police. The couple are at present under the protection of Patna police, but they have decided to resume their journey soon.
This is the third attack on western tourists in India in the past fortnight, after a German man was attacked at a railway station in the state of Uttar Pradesh and a Swiss couple were left hospitalised in Agra, near the site of the Taj Mahal.
The tourism minister, KJ Alphons, has since claimed that India remains a safe destination for tourists.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/07/british-rafters-flee-river-gangesfrom-armed-robbers/
