Bengaluru:
Two women – a 27-year-old Israeli tourist and a homestay owner – were allegedly gang-raped by three men in Karnataka on Thursday night. The incident occurred when they were stargazing on the serene banks of a canal in Koppal, about 350 km from tech hub Bengaluru, with three other travellers.
The accused pushed the three travellers into the canal before targeting the women. While Daniel, who is from the United States, and Pankaj, a traveller from Maharashtra, managed to swim out, Bibash from Odisha drowned. His body was found Saturday morning.
A senior police officer has assured that the accused will be arrested soon.
Police said the women are recovering at a government hospital
“Five people – two women and three men – were attacked near Sanapur. Two of them are foreigners – an American, and another a woman from Israel. The woman said in her complaint that besides being beaten up, the two women were sexually assaulted by the accused,” said Ram L Arasiddi, Superintendent of Police, Koppal.
The homestay owner, 29, said in her complaint that she and the four guests had gone for stargazing on the banks of Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal after dinner when the accused arrived on a bike.
They first asked where they could get petrol and then started demanding Rs 100 from the travellers. On being refused, they attacked the travellers, pushed the men into the canal, and raped the women, the complaint read. They fled on their motorcycle after committing the crime.
Fire officials and the police’s dog squad looking for the missing tourist – who was later found dead
Fire officials and the police’s dog squad were deployed to find Bibash yesterday. His body was found on the bank of the canal this morning.
The women are recovering at a government hospital, but they can be shifted to a private hospital if they want, said police. Based on the complaint, a police case has been filed under rape, gang-rape, and robbery charges.
Mr Arasiddi said immediate action was taken after women lodged their complaint. The accused are being identified, and two special teams are investigating the case, he said. He said the women have undergone medical checkup to confirm rape.
