KOPPAL: Two men were arrested Saturday for the rape of a 27-year-old Israeli tourist and her female homestay host as well as the murder of an Odia tourist.
The incident took place on Thursday night near Sanapur Lake, Gangavathi, Koppal, about 25 km from the Unesco world heritage site of Hampi. The arrested suspects are Mallesh alias Handi Mallesh, 22, and Kameshwar Rao, 21, both residents of Gangavathi taluk.
“One more suspect is still absconding, but we have strong leads on his whereabouts,” Koppal SP Ram L Arasiddi said. According to the FIR, the attack occurred late on March 6 when two women and three men, all tourists, went stargazing near the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal. They were playing a guitar and listening to music on the canal bank. The five had met at the homestay.
Around 11 pm, the three suspects, who had been drinking at a bar in Sanapur town, approached them on a motorcycle, initially asking for petrol money. The tourists gave them Rs 20, but the men demanded Rs 100. When the tourists refused, the situation turned violent, with the suspects hurling abuses that soon escalated into a violent altercation.
As the three male tourists-Daniel Pitas, 23, from the USA, Pankaj Amrit Rao Patil, 43, from Nashik, and Bibash, 26, from Odisha-tried to intervene, the attackers pushed the three tourists into the canal. While Pitas and Patil swam back to safety, Bibash’s body was found early Saturday in the canal around 2km from the spot.
Two of the attackers then held the homestay owner by the throat before sexually assaulting her. Another suspect raped the Israeli woman. The attackers also robbed the survivors, snatching two cellphones and Rs 9,500 in cash before fleeing the scene.
Cops: Survivors identified the two arrested
After about three hours of the nightmare, the survivors managed to reach Gangavathi Rural police station at 5am Friday to report the crime. They were immediately admitted to the sub-divisional hospital, while police launched investigation, deploying dog squads and forensic teams.
The complainant informed police that the attackers spoke in Kannada and Telugu. The survivors have reportedly identified the arrested suspects. Their arrests followed an extensive operation involving multiple police teams, forensic experts, and technical surveillance.
The attack has sparked outrage, raising concerns over the safety of tourists at Hampi and its surrounding areas. Chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar have promised a thorough probe and justice to the survivors.
