Falsely blamed for trying to kidnap children, five Indian tourists were beaten and then imprisoned in Dumre, Pokhara this week. Ashok Kumar Yadav and Ramesh Kumar Shah were stuck in a highway blockade in Tanahu and decided to walk to a nearby village for sight-seeing. Forty-year-old Yadav was taking pictures of a little boy in the village, who he says resembled his son, when he was attacked for being a suspected kidnapper. Their friends who were waiting in the car were assaulted.

The police imprisoned the tourists for two days. "The suspicion was based on rumours, but we had to detain them for their own safety," said police officer Rajendra Bista. Ironically, villagers demanded compensation for the injuries they suffered when they beat up the tourists. Despite being proven innocent, the tourists were compelled to pay up. The Indian tourists cancelled their visit to Pokhara and flew back.