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Jaipur: Concerned over the rising incidents of foreign tourists being raped or molested, Rajasthan has decided to strengthen its tourism police force by inducting retired defence personnel for security.
The decision was taken after the federal government directed all state governments to take steps to check these crimes.
"We will implement the Centre's directive strictly," said Urmila Rajoria, a tourism department official.
The state, which has several popular holiday destinations, currently has about 150 tourism police personnel who are deployed in important tourist spots.
They are, however, paid a meagre salary of Rs2,300 (Dh209) per month.
Apart from recruiting more security personnel, the state also plans to increase their remuneration.
"We already have about 40 posts lying vacant. The details are being worked out for appointing more and a proposal in this regard would be sent to the state government soon," an official said.
In the last two years, Rajasthan's image of a safe tourist haven has been scarred by several instances of tourists, especially foreigners, being raped or molested.
In 2005, an auto-rickshaw driver and his accomplice in Jodhpur raped a 47-year-old German tourist. The two were sentenced to life imprisonment by a fast-track court within a month.
Biti Mohanty, son of a senior police officer of Orissa, raped a 26-year-old German student in Alwar in March 2006.
Mohanty was found guilty and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by a fast-track court. But he jumped parole in December 2006 and has been absconding since then.
In April 2006, a Japanese woman was raped and robbed of Rs54,000 by the son of a hotel manager in the city of Pushkar. Babloo, the main accused, was awarded seven years' imprisonment.
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