Israeli Woman Gang-Raped in Karnataka; Three Tourists Attacked, One Found Dead
Karnataka’s famous tourist destination, Hampi, became the scene of a horrific crime on the night of March 6. A 27-year-old Israeli woman and a homestay owner were allegedly gang-raped by three men near the Tungabhadra Canal around 11:30 PM.
According to reports, the woman was accompanied by three other tourists—one from the United States (Daniel) and two from Maharashtra and Odisha (Pankaj and Bibash). The attackers assaulted the group, pushing all three men into the canal before committing the crime. While Daniel and Pankaj managed to swim to safety, Bibash tragically drowned. His body was discovered two days later on March 8.
Search and Rescue Operation
Authorities launched a rescue operation on the morning of March 7 to locate Bibash, deploying fire brigade personnel, police teams, and sniffer dogs. However, success came only on March 8, when his body was found near the canal’s edge. His remains were sent to a government hospital for post-mortem examination.
Sequence of Events
The homestay owner, a 29-year-old woman, informed the police that she and her four guests had gone to the canal after dinner to stargaze. Suddenly, three men arrived on motorcycles and inquired about fuel availability. Shortly after, they demanded ₹100 from the Israeli woman. When the group refused, the assailants turned violent, attacking them and pushing the three men into the canal. They then allegedly raped the women before fleeing the scene.
Following the incident, the survivors initially searched for Bibash before returning to their homestay and reporting the crime to the police. The victims were then sent for medical examination.
Police Investigation Underway
Koppal Superintendent of Police (SP) R.L. Arasiddi confirmed that a case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections related to gang rape, robbery, and attempted murder. Six teams have been formed to track down the accused.
Authorities have assured that all efforts are being made to bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident has sparked outrage, raising concerns about tourist safety in the region.
