KOPPAL: A 27-year-old Israeli tourist and her female homestay operator were raped while a fellow boarder from Odisha was thrown to his death in a canal in Karnataka's Koppal by three intruders at a scenic spot barely 25km from Unesco world heritage site of Hampi.
Two other tourists in the group, one from the US and another from Maharashtra's Nashik, swam to safety from the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal after the horror late on March 6 night.
On Saturday, police announced arrests of two of the suspects, and a hunt for the third. This came amid widespread outrage over the gruesome attack and concerns over the safety of tourists at Hampi and its surrounding areas.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar promised a thorough investigation and justice.
According to the FIR, the group of five was stargazing near the canal, playing guitar and listening to music. The five were not friends but had met at the homestay where they were staying.
Around 11 pm, the three suspects, who had been drinking at a bar in nearby Sanapur town, approached the visitors on a motorcycle, initially asking for money to buy petrol. The tourists gave them Rs 20, but the men demanded Rs 100. When the tourists refused, the intruders turned aggressive, hurling abuses that soon got worse.
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