Two women, including a 27-year-old Israeli tourist, were allegedly gang-raped while stargazing on the banks of Sanapur Lake near Hampi, while a male tourist who was with them was found dead.
As per the reports, a male tourist was reported missing after the attackers pushed him into the Tungabhadra River canal on Thursday night.
"The incident occurred around 11 pm on Thursday when, after dinner, a 29-year-old woman operator of the homestay—where the Israeli tourist and three other male tourists were staying—was sitting by the canal with them, enjoying music and stargazing," they said, as quoted by PTI.
The two women are undergoing treatment at a hospital. Among the male tourists, one was from the United States, while the others were from Odisha and Maharashtra, police said.
According to the police, in her complaint, the homestay operator alleged that while they were stargazing and playing music near Sanapur Lake, three men on a motorcycle approached them, asking where they could get petrol. When she informed them that there were no petrol pumps nearby, the accused demanded Rs 100.
When she and the tourists refused to give them money, the accused—who spoke Kannada and Telugu—started abusing them. They then allegedly raped her and the Israeli tourist and pushed the three male tourists into the canal, a senior police officer said.
Of the male tourists, two sustained injuries, while the one from Odisha has been reported missing, he added.
The complainant said the attackers pushed the male tourists—23-year-old American Daniel Pitas, 42-year-old Pankaj Patil from Nasik in Maharashtra, and 26-year-old Bibash from Odisha—into the canal and then raped him and the 27-year-old Israeli woman. Bibash is reported to be missing.
Citing Ram L. Arasiddi, Superintendent of Police, Koppal, IE said that the three men were pushed into the water, and we suspect one of them may have drowned. His body is yet to be found. The other two managed to swim ashore. The attackers were physically very aggressive despite the group of tourists outnumbering them. We think a local gang is involved. Efforts are on to find them.
