Karnataka: 2 women raped in Hampi, co-traveler found dead,2 arrested

The Karnataka Police have arrested two accused in connection with the alleged gangrape of two women, including a 27-year-old Israeli tourist, near Hampi. As per police, the two arrested accused have been identified as Sai Mallu and Chethan Sai, both residents of Gangavathi city. Two women, including a 27-year-old Israeli tourist and a homestay owner, were allegedly gang-raped by three men on Thursday night. The incident occurred when they were stargazing on the serene banks of a canal in Koppal, near Hampi, about 350 km from Bengaluru, with three other travellers. Three male companions, who were with the women, were also assaulted by the attackers and later thrown into a canal. One of the men's bodies was recovered from the waters Saturday morning. The homestay owner, 29, said in her complaint that she and the four guests had gone for stargazing on the banks of Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal after dinner when the accused arrived on a bike.
According to police reports, the victims were accompanied by three male tourists - one from the United States and two from India - when they were attacked around 11 pm.While two of the male tourists - Daniel from the US and Pankaj from Maharashtra - managed to escape, the third tourist, identified as Bibash from Odisha, remains missing who was later found dead. SP Koppal, Ram L Arasiddi, confirmed that a case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of gang rape, robbery, and attempted murder. “We have formed six special teams to track down the accused. Immediate action was taken following the women’s complaint, and the investigation is in full swing,” he stated. He said the women have undergone medical checkup to confirm rape. Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Locals and activists have urged the authorities to intensify security measures in the region to prevent such heinous crimes in the future.

(State Correspondent)