An Indian tourist in Bhutan was detained briefly by the police on Friday after he stood on the dome of a sacred Buddhist monument, The Bhutanese reported. The tourist, identified as Abhijit Ratan Hajare from Maharashtra, was released after he apologised in writing.
In a video tweeted by The Bhutanese newspaper, the tourist in a black jacket and jeans with protective biking gear is seen climbing a ladder to the top of the memorial structure at Dochula, 20 km from Bhutan's capital Thimphu.
The video of Indian Tourist Abhijit Ratan Hajare from Maharashtra climbing the chorten.
— The Bhutanese (@thebhutanese) October 18, 2019
Source: WeChat. pic.twitter.com/MwxzcvjLVl
There are 108 stupas at Dochula, built in the memory of Bhutanese soldiers who died in a military strike - Operation All Clear - in 2003 to flush out insurgents from India's north-east region. The insurgents had set up camps in Bhutan along the border with India.
In another photo, a Bhutanese carpenter was seen sitting on the ladder on the dome of the chorten or a religious monument. The local police are looking for him.
The newspaper reported the tourist in the biker outfit has been identified as Abhijit Ratan Hajare, a resident of Maharashtra. "In the second picture the man sitting on the ladder is a Bhutanese citizen and carpenter, Jambay, who was doing repair works on the Chortens," The Bhutanese tweeted.
Update: According to the RBP the Indian tourist Abhijit Ratan Hajare has been let go after he apologized for his behavior in writing citing ignorance.
— The Bhutanese (@thebhutanese) October 18, 2019
A factor was that for any legal charge to be applied under the penal code he would have to have destroyed or damaged the stupa. pic.twitter.com/fOYnTHbvhu
The images sparked outrage on social media.
As an Indian I am so sorry for this. https://t.co/oZPIYXSTsY
— Nirupama Menon Rao, निरुपमा राउ, بینظیر (@NMenonRao) October 18, 2019
