What was meant to be a night of merrymaking turned into a tormenting experience for a solo woman traveller in Kerala’s Varkala on January 1, New Year’s night. Four women travellers along with her were sexually exploited by a man from Kollam at a backpacker’s hostel near Varkala Cliff. In conversation with TNM, one of the women explained the incident.
According to her, the areas surrounding the Varkala Cliff did not feel safe at all on New Year’s Eve, as a crowd of local men had gathered everywhere. “They were harassing and catcalling. Some of the women in the hostel I stayed at even said there were incidents of groping and inappropriate touches,” she said, comparing it to the case of mass molestation that took place at Bengaluru’s Church Street a few years ago.
This horrific incident took place at The Lost Hostels in Varkala on January 1, 2024. On 31 December, 2023 the women went to the cafe at the Varkala Cliff for dinner, the group of men catcalled them and passed rude remarks on them.
Upon seeing how unruly the men were, the hostellers cancelled their plans for the New Year party and moved back to The Lost Hostels. “Three men tried to barge into the hostel at night. The guard prevented them and sent them all away.” she recollected.
“Between 5 and 6 am on January 1, I woke up to find out that a man had climbed into the bed with me and was touching me inappropriately all over my body. I was in shock but I somehow managed to push him off. He then went to the beds of two other women in the same dorm as I. Together we pushed him out of the room and closed the door,” she said.
The accused, who was identified as Akhil also kissed another woman from another room which created a commotion. That is when some male hostellers caught him and beat him up. The accused Akhil was charged with molesting the hostellers. The entire incident is heartbreaking, raising questions about women’s safety.
