Two girls have been gang-raped and a person was killed in an assault close to a preferred Unesco World Heritage website in southern India, in accordance with police.
The 2 girls – an Israeli vacationer and an Indian homestay operator – have been stargazing with three male vacationers close to a lake within the metropolis of Hampi, Karnataka, once they have been attacked by a bunch of males on Thursday evening, police superintendent Ram Arasiddi instructed Reuters.
Arasiddi stated the assailants pushed the lads into the Tungabhadra River canal earlier than raping the ladies.
Two of the lads, one in every of them American, survived, and the third man’s physique was recovered on Saturday morning, he stated.
“5 individuals – two girls and three males – have been attacked close to Sanapur,” Arasiddi stated.
“Two of them are foreigners, an American [man], and one other a girl from Israel.”
Police have arrested two of the lads accused of the assault and an investigation is ongoing, Arasiddi stated. Police consider the lads adopted the group.
The US State Division stated it was “conscious of experiences {that a} US citizen was amongst a bunch of victims of violent crime” close to Hampi.
In line with witness testimony from one of many girls, the group was stargazing close to a temple in Sanapur when three males arrived on a bike and requested them the place they might get petrol.
As one member of the group gave them instructions, one of many three males demanded 100 rupees ($1.29) from the vacationers.
“For the reason that homestay operator didn’t know them, she instructed them they’d no cash,” police stated.
“When the lads repeatedly insisted, one of many male vacationers gave them 20 rupees.
“After that, the three males allegedly began arguing.”
The physique of one of many male vacationers was later discovered within the Tungabhadra canal in Karnataka’s Koppal district.
A case has been registered at Gangavathi Rural Police Station below sections associated to extortion, theft, gang rape and tried homicide.
The victims are receiving medical remedy at a authorities hospital, the police stated.
Hampi, an historical village within the south Indian state of Karnataka, is house to quite a few ruins and temples from the Vijayanagara Empire. It was declared as a World Heritage Website by Unesco in 1986.
In a put up on X, Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah wrote: “The assault and rape of an Israeli citizen and homestay proprietor is a most heinous act.
“As quickly because the incident was reported, I obtained data from the related police, carried out a radical investigation, and instructed them to rapidly determine the culprits.
“The police have arrested two accused in reference to the case and are persevering with the investigation.”
Assaults on girls in India gained worldwide consideration final yr after the brutal rape-homicide of a junior physician at a hospital within the japanese metropolis of Kolkata.
The assault sparked nationwide outrage and protests over a scarcity of security for ladies.
