Israeli tourist one of two women gang-raped in India, police say

According to police sources, an attack occurred near a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern India, resulting in the death of one man and the gang rape of two women. The incident has drawn significant attention from local police, who have launched a comprehensive investigation.

Police Superintendent Ram Arasiddi told Reuters that the two female victims—an Israeli tourist and an Indian homestay operator—were stargazing with three male tourists near a lake in Hampi, Karnataka. On Thursday night, they were attacked by a group of men. The attackers then pushed the male tourists into the Tungabhadra canal.

Superintendent Arasiddi stated that of the three men pushed into the canal, two survived, including an American. The body of the third man was found on Saturday morning. Police have arrested two men suspected of involvement in the attack, and the investigation is ongoing. Preliminary police assessments suggest that the group of perpetrators may have been following the victims.

According to the testimony of one of the female victims, on the night of the incident, while they were stargazing near a temple in Sanapur, three men arrived on motorcycles, asking where they could buy gasoline. When one of the victims gave them directions, one of the men demanded 100 rupees (approximately $1.29 USD) from the tourists. Because the homestay operator did not recognize these individuals, she informed them that they had no money. However, the three men persisted, and one of the male tourists gave them 20 rupees, after which an argument ensued. The body of the murdered male tourist was later discovered in the Tungabhadra canal in the Koppal district of Karnataka.

Currently, the police have registered a case at the Gangavathi Rural Police Station, with charges including extortion, robbery, gang rape, and attempted culpable homicide. The victims are receiving treatment at a government hospital. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah posted on social media, stating that the attack and rape of an Israeli citizen and a homestay operator are the most heinous acts. He stated that he immediately obtained information from the relevant police departments after the incident, conducted a thorough investigation, and instructed them to quickly identify the perpetrators. Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the case and are continuing their investigation.

Hampi is an ancient village in Karnataka, South India, with numerous ruins and temples from the Vijayanagara Empire. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. In recent years, attacks against women in India have received increasing international attention. A previous case in Kolkata, where a young female doctor was brutally raped and murdered in a hospital, sparked nationwide anger and protests, with protesters calling on the government to take measures to ensure women's safety.