Israeli tourist, homestay owner gang-raped near Hampi; one tourist found dead

A 27-year-old Israeli tourist and a 29-year-old homestay owner were allegedly gang-raped near Sanapur Lake in Hampi on Thursday night. The attackers also assaulted three male companions of the women and pushed them into a canal, resulting in the death of one of them.

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According to police, the incident occurred between 11 and 11:30 PM when a group of five—an Israeli woman, three men from Odisha, Maharashtra, and the United States, and a female homestay owner—went stargazing near the lake. They were approached by three bike-borne men who initially asked for directions and then demanded money. When refused, they turned violent, attacking the group.

The three male tourists were thrown into the canal, while the two women were sexually assaulted. Two of the men, from Maharashtra and the US, managed to escape, but the third, an Odisha tourist, drowned. His body was recovered the next morning.

The victims reported the crime to the police, who have launched an investigation. A case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including gang rape, robbery, and attempted murder. Efforts are underway to track down the suspects.