Karnataka: Israeli tourist, homestay owner gang-raped for refusing to pay Rs 100; male friend killed

Karnataka police have formed special teams to nab a three-member gang who allegedly gangraped two women, including a 27-year-old tourist from Israel in Hampi. Police also recovered the body an Odisha youth who has been missing since the incident, after he was allegedly attacked by the trio.

According to Hampi police, the incident happened on Thursday while the Israeli tourist, accompanied by the homestay operator, and three other male tourists from the United States, Maharashtra and Odisha had gone to the banks of Sanapur Lake for stargazing. Around 11pm, while the tourists were spending leisure time by the banks of the lake, a trio on a motorcycle allegedly approached them.

The 29-year-old homestay operator alleged the trio asked where they could get petrol nearby. When she told them that there were petrol pumps in the locality, the gang asked her for Rs 100. The group refused to pay the money to the accused.

Ired, the accused abused the group in Kannada and Telugu, the victim alleged. The trio later attacked the men in the group and pushed them into the lake, and gangraped the women, police said. According to police, while the tourists from Maharashtra and the US climbed back to the bank, the Odisha youth, identified as Bibash, was missing. Police recovered his body from the lake on Saturday.

Gangavathi rural police have registered a case for extortion, robbery or dacoity with intent to cause death or grievous hurt, gangrape, and attempted murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police said. Ram L. Arasiddi, Superintendent of Police, Koppal, said the investigation is progressing in full swing in the case and immediate action was taken based on the women’s complaint. The victims are undergoing treatment at a government hospital in the district.