Man drowns, Israeli tourist and local woman gang-raped in India, police say

According to local police sources, an Israeli female tourist and an Indian woman were gang-raped by three men near a well-known UNESCO World Heritage site in southern India.

An Indian man was accompanying the two women, and he drowned after being pushed into a canal. Police chief Ram Arasiddi stated that the incident occurred on Thursday when the three, along with two other male tourists, were stargazing in Hampi town, Karnataka; the attackers assaulted them after a dispute over money.

Mr. Arasiddi stated that the attackers pushed the male tourists into the canal and then gang-raped the two women. Two of the men, including an American, swam to safety, but the third man's body was discovered on Saturday morning.

Police have arrested two suspects and are continuing their investigation. Currently, the two men are being held on suspicion of attempted murder, gang rape, and robbery.

In the past year, attacks against women in India have garnered widespread international attention, sparking nationwide outrage and protests focused on the lack of security for women. According to data from India's National Crime Records Bureau, Indian police recorded 31,516 rape cases in 2022, a 20% increase from 2021.

The actual numbers may be far higher than official statistics due to the social stigma associated with sexual violence and victims' lack of trust in police investigations, leading to many cases going unreported.