IDUKKI: Tourism centres in Kerala are recognised worldwide for their hospitality. However, a recent incident in Thekkady, where a shop owner mistreated foreign tourists simply because they were Israeli nationals, has sparked a storm of controversy.

According to sources, the incident happened around 6.30 pm on Wednesday at a shop named ‘Incredible Craft’ run by a Kashmiri native. The shop sells clothes and craft items in Kumily, a tourist spot in Idukki.

Israeli national Calanit Doverevalfer and her husband Odedvalfer, who is a German, had come to Thekkady two days ago and they were staying at a resort in Thamarakkandam there.

On Wednesday evening, the woman reached the town for shopping and she entered the craft shop. While speaking to her daughter through a video call, the shop owner Fayaz Ahammed Rawtter, who is a Kashmiri, noticed the Hebrew language in which they were conversing and asked Calanit about her nationality. When she replied that she was an Israeli, Rawtter reportedly asked her to get out of his shop.

The woman went to the resort where she was staying and informed the issue to her husband, who informed the Malayali driver who took them to Thekkady. After being informed by the driver, nearby shop owners and traders union representatives arrived at the shop and asked the shop owner to tender an apology to the tourists for the rude behaviour.

Although they left the shop after warning the shop owner that they would file a complaint at the police station, the couple did not file any complaints. Hence no action was taken against the shop owner, police said.

The couple left for Kumarakom at 8.30 am on Thursday.

As per intelligence sources, Thekkady has nearly 38 shops run by Kashmiris. Some of these shops are run directly by Kashmiris and others by Malayalis.

Meanwhile, the intelligence wing has launched a detailed probe into the issue and a report will be sent to prevent such incidents in the future.