NEW DELHI: In a shocking incident near Hampi, two women, including a 27-year-old Israeli tourist and a 29-year-old homestay operator, were allegedly gang-raped while stargazing by the banks of Sanapur Lake on Thursday night.
The victims were with three male touristsโone from the United States and two from Indiaโwhen the attack occurred around 11 pm.
According to police reports, the assailants, who arrived on a motorcycle, initially inquired about petrol and then demanded โน100 from the group.
When the victims refused, the situation escalated. The attackers became violent, physically assaulting the group, pushing the men into a canal, and then sexually assaulting the women.
Two of the male touristsโDaniel from the US and Pankaj from Maharashtraโmanaged to escape, while the third, Bibash from Odisha, remains missing.
A search operation, involving fire officials and a police dog squad, is underway to locate him.
Following a complaint from the victims, a case has been registered at the Gangavathi Rural Police Station under several charges, including extortion, robbery, gang rape, and attempted murder.
Superintendent of Police, Koppal, Ram L Arasiddi confirmed the registration of the case and assured swift action. He added that six special teams have been formed to track down the perpetrators.
The victims are currently receiving medical treatment at a government hospital.
This brutal attack has raised concerns about the safety of tourists in Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Locals and activists have called on the authorities to enhance security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
