Recent social media posts have raised serious concerns about the safety of tourists visiting Munnar, particularly the Top Station area. Reports describe harassment, extortion, and even physical attacks by groups posing as vendors or guides. In one incident, a KSRTC bus driver and conductor were brutally assaulted while tourists watched helplessly, fearing for their own safety.

The root of the problem lies in the unique geography of Top Station, which straddles the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. While the entrance and main roads are in Kerala, the eastern slopes and viewpoints fall under Tamil Nadu’s Theni district, specifically the Kurangini police station jurisdiction. Criminals exploit this jurisdictional gap, fleeing into Tamil Nadu before Kerala police can act, while Tamil Nadu police take time to arrive from the valley.

This is not a simple case of Tamil versus Malayali conflict. The large Tamil presence in Munnar dates back to the late 19th century, when British planters brought thousands of Tamil laborers from drought-hit districts to work on tea plantations. These workers and their descendants built Munnar over generations. However, most remain landless, living in estate lines, and often maintain ties with Tamil Nadu for social security in old age.

Calling for a boycott of Munnar is counterproductive. The criminals are a small minority; most locals depend on tourism for their livelihood. Instead, experts suggest a joint Kerala-Tamil Nadu police patrol in border areas, tourist police aid posts, and a special task force to address the jurisdictional challenges. Munnar belongs to everyone, and both tourists and locals deserve safety and dignity.