Two women, including Israeli tourist, raped near Hampi in Karnataka

Gangavathi (Koppal dist): A 27-year-old female Israeli tourist and a 29-year-old female operator of a homestay were raped by miscreants on the banks of the popular Sanapur lake, near Hampi, on Thursday night.  

A male tourist from Odisha, who was with the two at the time of the crime, is missing after the culprits pushed him into the Tungabhadra left bank canal, while two other male tourists, from the US and Maharashtra, sustained injuries.

The survivors are recovering at a government hospital.

Six teams of the police are hunting for the culprits behind the shocking incident that took place around 10.30 pm and is bound to raise questions about security around the lake, which is around 4 km from Hampi and a big draw among foreign tourists.

A case has been registered at the Gangavathi rural police station under sections 309(6) (theft or extortion), 311 (robbery or dacoity with the intent to cause death or grievous hurt), 64 (rape), 70(1) (gang-rape), 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). 

According to the FIR, the crime unfolded when four tourists and the operator of the homestay where they were staying were stargazing and playing music near the Sanapur lake.

Three bike-borne men approached them and enquired as to where they could get petrol. When the homestay operator told them that there was no petrol pump nearby, the trio demanded Rs 100.

When the five refused to part with any money, the accused, in their mid-20s and speaking Kannada and Telugu, started abusing and assaulting the survivors, after which they pushed the three male tourists into the canal. 

A female survivor, who filed the compliant, stated that when the male tourists were struggling to come out of the canal, two of the three accused raped her and the Isreali tourist.  

Speaking to DH, Koppal SP Ram L Arasiddi said they had received a complaint from the female survivors, stating they were abused and raped by three unidentified persons. 

The SP also confirmed that the visitor from Odisha is missing. “Survivors informed the police that he was pushed into the canal. Since then, his whereabouts are not known,” the SP said.

Canine squads and fire department officials have been looking for the tourist since Friday morning.