'Can Happen Anywhere': How Dutch Tourist Ended Up At Beggars' Shelter Home In Odisha's Bhubaneswar

A tourist from Netherlands was robbed by a taxi driver, following which he had to stay in a shelter home for beggars for over a month.

The accused has been identified and will be nabbed soon.

Source : Representational Image/Getty

A 72-year-old Dutch tourist found himself forced to reside in a shelter home for beggars for over a month after an alleged robbery incident in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. As per a PTI report, Anthony Von Arkel stated on Friday that he had checked into a hotel in Puri but he was robbed by a taxi driver who then “locked him up” in Bhubaneswar for three days. Arkel was travelling to the city from Puri in a cab to exchange foreign currency on January 9. 

While en route to Bhitarkanika, the driver grabbed his money when he stepped out of the car to relieve himself. Following an altercation, the driver took Arkel to his parental residence where he was allegedly “locked up” for three days.

He had registered a complaint about the incident on January 25, a police officer told PTI.

“With some youths’ help, I returned to Puri via Bhubaneswar. I then went to the police and filed a complaint,” Arkel was quoted by PTI. 

With only very little money in hand, Arkel told PTI that he stayed in a shelter home for beggars from January 25 until March 1. After the incident was publicised by the media, the Puri administration arranged his stay in the guest house. 

This was Arkel’s sixth visit, he said that such incidents can happen anywhere, even his own country (Netherlands).

“I love India very much and this is my sixth visit here. I love the people, nature and the country’s temples. People are very friendly, but such an incident can happen anywhere, even in my own country. The media and the state government helped me to get through the situation. So, my love for India remains,” Arkel asserted.

Meanwhile, Puri SP Pinak Mishra told PTI that the accused has been identified and he will be nabbed soon.