The video clip of the incident went viral on social media, evoking outrage in the country and prompting demands for a tough punishment.
The footage shows the tourist standing on the National Memorial Chorten, symbolising Buddha’s presence, in Dochula Pass in Bhutan.
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
The tourist in the biker outfit from the video clip was later identified as Abhijit Ratan Hajare from the Indian state of Maharashtra.
"Abhijit was part of a 15-bike convoy headed by a Bhutanese team leader. Incident happened when bikers were resting at Dochula and the team leader was trying to arrange parking for the bikes. The Bhutanese team leader was unaware of the incident," a Bhutanese news website reported.
Abhijit was detained by the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP). He was called in for questioning and the RBP took his passport.
1/3 Breaking: The tourist in the biker outfit is Abhijit Ratan Hajare from the Indian state of Maharashtra.
— The Bhutanese (@thebhutanese) October 18, 2019
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 pic.twitter.com/Mq3vn2VKSI
Other photographs show a Bhutanese citizen, Jambay, who is a carpenter doing repair works on the Chortens.
Abhijit came across Jambay and he allowed him to climb the ladder. The RBP is currently searching for Jambay.
The video clip and photograph have left netizens outraged.
They first behave like wild animals in their own country and then they go abroad to do the same. Too often they think freedom = tolerance for hooliganism.
— यू पी का लौंडा 🇮🇳 (@indianwhale) October 18, 2019
Humble request: Penalise him ruthlessly.
I am an Indian and apologize on behalf of all Indians for this insensitive action by our countryman.
— The1 (@singhghanshyam) October 18, 2019
Please punish him as per your laws if he did his despite being aware of the rules.
but ensure you train/sensitize the future tourists in a much better way.
Please punish the guy. How dare he stand over a samadhi. That too of a Bhutanese soldier who died fighting terrorists who were infiltrating India from the Bhutan borders.Shame on such uncouth tourists and Indians who don't know how to respect other people.
— Sudha సుధ (@rasu667) October 18, 2019
Punish him.
While the Indian need to be punished, the Bhutanese citizen who understands local culture better does not seem to be doing any carpentry work in that photo. He is just posing cross legged disrespectfully. He needs to be punished too.
— राम ராம் (Ram) 🇮🇳 (@ramisright) October 18, 2019
This is shameful. Bhutan must deal with this miscreant as per law and make a lesson for others to respect other cultures.
— Popcorn_for_soul🍿 (@popcorn_soul) October 18, 2019
A Bhutanese website later said the RBP released Abhijit Ratan Hajare after he apologised for his behavior in writing, citing ignorance. This is not the first such incident where Indian tourists have been slammed on social media. A few months ago, a video surfaced showing a group of Indian tourists "stealing accessories" from a hotel in Bali.
