Two tourists assaulted by parking contractors

Tourists were shocked to learn about the exorbitant prices for commodities and even parking

HARIPUR: A conflict over exorbitant parking fees turned to blows with parking contractors and their accomplices allegedly thrashing a tourist family at the Khanpur Dam on Thursday to enjoy their holidays.

Officers from the Khanpur police, with the precinct located just a stone’s throw from where the incident took place, took half an hour to arrive at the scene and intervene.

The tourist, who did not want to be named, said that when they arrived at the dam on Thursday, they were shocked to learn about the exorbitant prices for commodities and even parking.

The tourist said that fritters (Pakoray) were being sold for as much as Rs500 per kilogramme at stalls lining the banks of the dam while a small bottle of water was being sold for Rs150.

He said that while parking for a car was listed as Rs80 on the ticket, they were asked to pay Rs100 for it while the Rs30 ticket for a motorcycle was being charged Rs50.

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The tourist said that when they confronted the parking contractor about this along with some other visiting families, the contractor and their accomplices allegedly assaulted them. As a result, two people were left bloodied and injured.

“We used to consider it [Khanpur Dam] safe for families,” the tourist said, adding that there was no representative of either the local police or the district administration present to protect them.

He added that police officers arrived half an hour after being called. By that time, he said, the culprits had fled.

District police and administration officials, when contacted, said that they were investigating the matter and assured that the culprits will face legal action. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2019.