2 women, including an Israeli tourist, raped near Hampi; 2 arrested
The attackers allegedly pushed the three male tourists into the canal at Sanapur; one found dead
Two women, an Israeli tourist and a homestay owner, were allegedly raped near Hampi, in Karnataka, on Thursday (March 6).
According to reports, there was a scuffle involving three miscreants, who are yet to be identified, and a group of tourists, leading to assault and rape.
Later, on Saturday evening (March 8), police said they had arrested two people in connection with the case and hunt is on to nab the third accused. Mallesh, 22, and Chetansai Silleketkar, 21, have been arrested. They are from Gangavati taluk in Karnataka, police said.
The shocking incident happened in Sanapur, an emerging tourist attraction near Hampi, where the victims were having dinner near the lake and the adjacent Tungabhadra Left Bank canal.
Three male companions — a traveller from the United States, another from Odisha, and a third from Maharashtra — were also attacked and pushed into the canal. The body of one of the men was found on Saturday morning.
'Miscreants demanded money'
In her statement, the homestay owner said that the incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. while she and her four guests were stargazing and listening to music near the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal, close to the Durgamma Temple in Sanapur. Three men arrived on a motorcycle and asked for directions to a petrol station. Shortly after, one of them demanded ₹100 from the tourists. When the group refused, the situation escalated into a violent confrontation.
The attackers allegedly pushed the three male tourists into the canal before assaulting and raping the two women. The accused fled on their motorcycle after the crime.
The homestay owner reported that Bibash, the tourist from Odisha was pushed into the canal. (He was missing, and later found dead). The other two men, Daniel from the US and Pankaj from Maharashtra, managed to escape from the canal after some time.
All four victims were treated at a local community health centre in Gangavati.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Gangavathi Rural Police Station under sections related to extortion, robbery or dacoity with intent to cause death or grievous hurt, gangrape, and attempted murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police said.
"We have registered the case and identified the suspects. Six teams have been formed, and efforts are underway to nab them," police said.
