A viral video posted by a tourist from Haryana comparing Manali's law and order situation to that of Pakistan has stirred widespread ire and drawn strong criticism from locals and those in the tourism industry.
In the video, the tourist, identified as Pradeep (35) from Mahendragarh, Haryana, claimed that his wife—who was carrying their four-month-old baby—and his brother were attacked near Mission Road parking, while bystanders and even the local police allegedly failed to help. He warned others to avoid visiting the hill station or to come armed.
On the complaint by the tourist, the police registered a case under Sections 126(2), 115(2), 352, 351(2), and 3(5) of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Manali DSP KD Sharma confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway.
The video has drawn sharp criticism from Manali residents and local stakeholders, especially those in the tourism sector.
Manohar, a local resident, called the video inflammatory and said promoting weapons in a peaceful tourist destination like Manali could lead to harmful consequences.
Hotelier Krishan urged tourism bodies to lodge a formal complaint against the tourist for damaging the town's reputation and potentially deterring future visitors.
Echoing similar concerns, Sanjeev, another resident, pointed to a growing tension between tourists and locals. He mentioned repeated incidents involving visitors from Punjab and Haryana had allegedly brought firearms and got into altercations with locals. He said such incidents have already prompted the local police to impose strict rules against entering Himachal with weapons.
Local resident Ashok demanded strict action against the tourist, accusing him of spreading fear and harming Manali’s image. He stressed that many clashes begin when tourists try to take the law into their own hands, and called for greater efforts to tackle misinformation being spread through viral videos on social media.
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