A 27-year-old Israeli tourist and a 29-year-old homestay owner were allegedly gang-raped by three men while stargazing near a canal in Karnataka on Thursday night. The incident took place around 11:30 pm in Koppal, approximately 350 km from Bengaluru, when the two women and their four companions were enjoying the night sky, reports Indian media NDTV.
According to the police, the assailants pushed three other travelers into the canal before targeting the women. While two men, Daniel from the United States and Pankaj from Maharashtra, managed to escape, Bibash from Odisha remains missing, as per the complainant.
The homestay owner reported that she and her guests had gone for stargazing along the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal after dinner when the attackers arrived on a motorcycle. The men initially asked for directions to a petrol station before demanding money. When refused, they assaulted and raped the two women, before fleeing the scene.
The women are currently recovering in a government hospital, with the option to be transferred to a private facility if needed. Police have filed charges of rape, gang-rape, and robbery based on the complaint. Investigations are underway, with special teams working to identify the perpetrators. Additionally, fire officials and the police’s dog squad are searching for the missing tourist.
A senior police officer has assured that the accused will be arrested soon, and immediate action was taken after the women filed their complaint.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
