Korean Blogger Held Captive for 30 Hours While Hitchhiking in India
According to a report by JTBC, a Korean television network, on August 25, a Korean blogger was kidnapped for 30 hours while hitchhiking in Himachal Pradesh, India, in July. The blogger, who was traveling by bike, had been riding for 10 hours and was exhausted when he accepted a ride from a group of locals. Believing the area to be safe, he got into the car and even took a photo with the occupants.
25 August 2024
However, when the car reached a remote area with no network coverage, the passengers pulled out knives and demanded that the blogger hand over his valuables. He was forced to consume an unknown substance, which left him unconscious for several hours. Upon waking up, the blogger secretly sent a message to his friends in Korea, asking them to report the incident to the police.
The kidnappers, realizing that the blogger had alerted the authorities, abandoned him and stole his cash, amounting to approximately 10,000 rupees (around $850 USD). The blogger was held captive for 30 hours before being released. He immediately reported the incident to the police, and a few days later, the kidnappers were arrested, confessed to the crime after being beaten by the police, and were eventually detained for three days.
The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of tourists in India, with many netizens expressing shock and outrage at the blogger's ordeal. Some have questioned why the blogger would choose to travel to India, given the country's reputation for crime and violence.
A South Korean blogger's recent harrowing experience while traveling in India's Himachal Pradesh region has served as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of hitchhiking in foreign countries. In July, the blogger, who was on a cycling trip, accepted a ride from a group of locals after hours of pedaling. Feeling exhausted, he gratefully accepted the offer, even posing for photos with his new acquaintances.
However, the friendly facade soon turned sinister when the vehicle reached a remote area with no cellular network coverage. The passengers, who had initially seemed hospitable, suddenly turned on the blogger, brandishing knives and Clubs and demanding that he hand over his valuables. The blogger was forced to consume a mysterious substance that rendered him unconscious for several hours.
When he awoke, he managed to discreetly send a distress message to his friends back in South Korea, who immediately alerted the authorities. The kidnappers, realizing their captive had betrayed their trust, quickly abandoned the blogger and made off with his cash, approximately 10,000 rupees (approximately $850 USD).
After being held captive for 30 hours, the blogger was finally released and promptly filed a report with local authorities. The perpetrators were arrested a few days later and, after a beating by police, confessed to their crime. They were ultimately detained for three days.
The incident unfolded on a sweltering day in July when the Korean blogger, who had been cycling for 10 hours, accepted a ride from a group of locals in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. Exhausted and trusting of the locals due to the region's reputation for being safe, the blogger climbed into the vehicle and even posed for a photo with his new acquaintances. However, as the car veered into a remote area with no cell phone signal, the atmosphere took a sinister turn. The passengers produced knives and wooden rods, threatening the blogger and demanding that he hand over his valuables. The blogger was then forced to ingest an unknown substance, which left him unconscious for several hours.
When the blogger came to, he discreetly managed to send a distress message to his friends in Korea, who immediately alerted the authorities. The kidnappers, realizing that their captive had sounded the alarm, abandoned him, taking with them 10,000 rupees (approximately $120 USD) in cash. After being held captive for 30 hours, the blogger was finally released and promptly filed a report with the police. His ordeal would ultimately lead to the capture and confession of the perpetrators, who were taken into custody and held for three days.
In a disturbing display of extrajudicial justice, the kidnappers were apprehended by the authorities a few days after the incident. According to reports, they were subjected to physical violence by the police, which led to their confession of the crime. The perpetrators were subsequently detained for three days. This raises concerns about the Indian justice system's adherence to due process and the resort to violence as a means of extracting confessions. The fact that the kidnappers were able to commit such a brazen crime in the first place also points to deficiencies in law enforcement and highlights the need for greater vigilance in ensuring the safety of tourists in the region.
The online community has expressed shock and outrage over the kidnapping of the Korean blogger in India. Many have taken to social media to share their concerns about the safety and security situation in India, with some commenting that the blogger was lucky to be a male, as the consequences could have been much worse if he were a female.
One user wrote: "Is Korea not aware of the risks? The blogger had no basic vigilance, thinking that 'the local security was okay'. Luckily, he was a man, or else he might not have returned."
Another user echoed similar sentiments: "I'm just saying, thank goodness the blogger was a male. If it were a female, the consequences would have been disastrous."
A third user pointed out the perceived leniency of the Indian authorities: "The kidnappers were caught, beaten by the police, and confessed to the crime, only to be detained for three days. Doesn't this send a message that it's not safe for tourists, especially women?"
User @兔星弑 warned against traveling to India altogether: "My first reaction was, 'thank goodness it was a male blogger'. India is a nightmare, regardless of whether you're male or female. Remember the Spanish couple who were kidnapped and the wife was raped earlier this year? Don't go to India for tourism, it's not safe!"